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Shop owner Shane Gleeson confirmed to the Limerick Leader: “There is definitely a group of them back.

“They reappeared in the last week, that is when they have been most visible. They seem to be a completely different gang and if anything, they are more aggressive than the previous crowd. They are hassling people”.

He added that the group of prostitutes - including one who was brazenly parading in illuminous orange boots - were “a completely different gang than before, bolder, noisier, more forward - they are exceptionally forward”.
(Source: Limerick Leader)

Longford

A Co Longford father of one has cheated death after being shot by an armed gang while on holiday in South America.

Michael Gibson (38) was recovering at his home in Perth, Australia last week alongside his wife Danielle and 16-month-old son, Lucas.

The businessman, who originally hails from Abbeycatron in Longford town, was singled out by a gunman, who along with two other raiders burst into the ‘All Dublin’ restaurant bar in the Brazilian city of Aguas Claras.

Mr Gibson sustained a bullet wound to his lower stomach, which passed through his midriff before exiting through his back.

Last week, Mr Gibson attempted to recall the shocking moments that led up to the attack as he spoke exclusively to the Leader from his home in Western Australia.

“It was about midnight I suppose and we were about to get the bill when these guys came running in with bandanas over their faces.

“One of them pointed the gun right at my face and told us to lie down on the ground,” he said.

As two of the gang members attempted to make their getaway having pocketed money, jewellery and other valuables from shocked diners, what Mr Gibson hadn’t bargained on was the presence of a third gunman who was lurking menacingly in the background.

As a former member of An Garda Siochana (based in Blanchardstown, Dublin), and the Australian Police Force, Mr Gibson struggled to his feet in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the raiders as they left.

“I wanted to get some sort of a description of them to give to the police, but what I didn’t realize was that there was another fella (raider) behind me. I just saw him all of a sudden take aim out of the corner of my, so I dived into some tables beside me,” he said.
(Source: Longford Leader)

Louth

A 45-year-old Dundalk man has been sentenced to nine years in prison at the circuit court in Castlebar for an attack on a couple in Achill, Co Mayo.

Michael McMahon of Ashlawn, The Loakers, Blackrock pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Sean Lavelle and to the imprisonment of him and his wife Emer, at their home in Tower Road, Dooagh, Achill on February 14, 2010.

The court heard how the couple arrived home to find two masked men with nail bars in their home on Valentine’s Day 2010, at around 8.30pm.

They were tied up and Mr Lavelle was beaten on the back, shins and hands. The men were later arrested and identified as brothers, Michael and Seamus McMahon.

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Nster.com