Diary of a Moyross Resident

The following is a diary of incidents that occurred in one estate in Moyross during the intense period of violence in mid- to late-2006 as recorded by a resident who spoke to Village.

I live in Delmege Park. My family has never been involved in crime and have no associations with those involved in the incidents listed on my log sheet.

Delmege Park is a small estate in Moyross. There are approximately 120 occupied houses in the estate. I believe about 40 houses are now vacant. Many people have moved out recently and if I was in a position I would move also.

Due to the unbelievable number of events that have taken place recently I decided to keep a log of events, which I personally witnessed or have heard (gun fire / people's terrified responses etc) in the last few weeks.

The following list is unfortunately not exhaustive but is what I logged and remember. There have been numerous [other] incidents, which I can't recall exact details of so I haven't listed them. Below is my log to the best of my memory.

8 September: Gardai petrol bombed by groups of youths
9 September: Gardai petrol bombed again by groups of youths. Trouble began about 22.30 and lasted until around 02.30am
9 September: house burned out in Pineview Gardens
10 September: Gavin and Millie Murray burned in their mother's car. Bungalow petrol bombed in Pineview
17 September: Frankie Ryan shot dead yards from my house
22 September: 5 separate shooting incidents in Delmege Park
23 September: Peace rally Limerick City hall
24 September: House attacked and later a woman and 14 year old shot and injured
27 September: Residents meeting in community centre- many promises
30 September: Arms find Delmege Park

Early October: 2pm day time shots fired from Pineview to Delmege, just as kids on way home from school. Car hit by bullet same day - I believe there was kids in car at time. Next days 4pm shots again fired from Pineview.

3 October: Arms find Delmege park
8 October: Sheila Murray's home attacked
10 October: Drive by shooting- young lad shot
11 October: Arms find Delmege
12 October: Bomb squad – area sealed off
18 October: Pat Kenny visits Limerick and meets three young lads with weapons
27 October: 51 Delmege Park shot up.
31October: Petrol bombs attacks in Delmege; at least two houses attacked.

1 November: 63 Delmege burned out
3 November: Shots fired Delmege Park
2 or 3 November: House petrol bombed.
5 November: Gun found on the bus to city centre
5 November: Machine guns fired minimum 30-40 shots fired 3 cars and 4 houses hit in Delmege Park
9 November: 11.55pm - shots fired.
10 November: 11.05pm - robbed car stopped with a stinger
11 November: 8:20pm - Shot fired  Delmege Park
14 November: 00.10am - six shots fired; 25 minutes later 8-10 shots fired
15 November: 10.35pm - two shots fired at a house after bricks thrown window Delmege Park
17 November: House shot at in Delmege Park.
19 November: 5.05am shots fired in Delmege Park.

In the period of this log there have been a number of other [houses] burned out.
A large number of houses in my estate are now vacant as those who can have left the area.

Thanks to the Moyross resident for allowing Village to print the diary and to Maurice Quinlivan for allowing Village access to the above information on his webiste www.mauricequinlivan.ie