A KEYES Park resident, aged 21, claims he was shot at by a plain clothes member of the Garda Emergency Response Unit close to his home last Thursday evening.
The young man’s father, Declan Hayes, told the Limerick Post that his son will now be pursuing legal action against An Garda Siochana. The alleged incident occurred when he was walking on a green close to his home in Southill.
His father claims that a plain clothes member of the Emergency Response Unit emerged from the undergrowth, wearing a hoody and yielding a firearm.
He claims that there was nothing to indicate that the man with the weapon was a member of the Gardaí.
Said Declan: “He thought that his life was in danger so he ran away from what he thought was a gunman”.
He added: When he ran away from the the ERU member, a shot was fired above his head and he fell to the ground in shock.
He further claimed: “When he was on the ground a gun was put to his head and he was arrested and taken to Roxboro Garda Station”.
According to the Hayes family, he was released without charge 20 minutes after being arrested.
Following his son’s arrest, Mr Hayes decided to take action by performing “a peaceful protest” on Tuesday.
This protest involved stopping traffic on the Childers Road with another man; during which he was arrested and taken to Roxboro Garda Station and was later released without charge.
When Mr Hayes questioned the actions of the Emergency Response Unit at Roxboro Garda Station, he was told that they would be undertaking an internal investigation.
A spokesperson for Roxboro Garda Station said there was an incident which is under investigation and which the Garda ombudsman has been made aware of.
