A HANDGUN and ammunition were seized by gardaí in Limerick yesterday as part of the investigation into the murder of Shane Geoghegan.
The weapon and 75 rounds of ammunition, along with a small quantity of drugs, were discovered during searches of a number of houses and open space in the Clarina Avenue and Crecora Avenue areas of Ballinacurra, Weston.
The handgun was found in a vacant house. The ammunition was discovered in two separate batches of 44 rounds and 31 rounds.
All of the items seized have been sent to Garda headquarters for forensic analysis, but gardaí say it is too early to confirm whether or not the handgun was the weapon used to murder 28-year-old Shane Geoghegan on November 9th last.
The Garryowen rugby player was shot dead as he walked home to his house in Clonmore, part of the Kilteragh housing estate in Dooradoyle.
Gardaí say Mr Geoghegan was mistakenly targeted by an attacker who had intended to shoot a local criminal. A massive inquiry involving 50 detectives has been under way since his murder and several search operations have been conducted during the past few days at various locations on the south side of Limerick city.
Yesterday's seizure was the second major discovery this week as part of these planned searches.
Last Monday morning 150 rounds of ammunition and €50,000 worth of cannabis were discovered during searches of open ground in Caledonian Park near Hyde Road in Limerick.