GARDAI are investigating an incident in Co Kerry in which a woman was stopped and ordered from her car by three men wearing balaclavas and carrying a handgun. The men said they were members of the IRA.
Garda Supt "lick O'Neill, of Killarney. said gardai were satisfied paramilitaries were involved in the attack. "We cannot have people taking the law into their own hands." he said.
The woman was driving to her home near Farranfore at 12.15 a.m. yesterday when she found her way blocked by a barricade of branches and fertiliser bags on the narrow country road.
When she stopped. three men appeared and ordered her from the car. They questioned her about her husband who is facing a drug charge later this year. and asked her to ring him on a mobile phone and invite him to come and meet them.
She refused and the men who identified themselves as members of the IRA told her to "F. .k off and not look back".
They then took her car and drove it towards Scart Cross, where they set it alight. Locals who saw the car on fire called the fire brigade and Garda but the car was destroyed.
It is understood the woman later made a statement to gardai.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Co Kerry particularly around Tralee. in which cars have been burnt and people beaten up. No organisation has claimed responsibility but senior gardai believe paramilitaries are involved.