Gardaí in Limerick were last night investigating half a dozen shootings in the Moyross housing estate over the weekend.
In one, a woman and a youth were injured following an attack at 10.30pm on Sunday in Delmege Park.
Former Sinn Féin candidate Jenny Shapland (42) suffered injuries to her lower body when she was hit by a gunman. A 15-year- old youth suffered minor injuries to his legs in the same attack.
Ms Shapland was recovering at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick yesterday where her injuries were described as not life-threatening.
Ms Shapland stood for Sinn Féin in the Limerick East byelection in 1998 following the death of Labour TD Jim Kemmy. Earlier this year, her son, Shane Shapland (22), was jailed for five years for shooting at three gardaí.
Gardaí were yesterday examining the scene of the attack on Ms Shapland, which they believe is not connected to the larger Limerick feud which has claimed six lives in as many years.
There were three other incidents in Moyross which occurred on Friday night, two in Delmege Park and the other in Pineview Gardens. Two houses were targeted but nobody was injured. On Saturday night, two more houses were shot at in College Avenue and Pineview Gardens. Nobody was injured in these attacks either.
This was the third weekend of violence in the northside Limerick estate. Two weeks ago, two children suffered horrific burn injuries when the car they were sitting in was petrol-bombed.
A week ago Frankie Ryan (21) was shot dead while sitting in a car in Pineview Gardens.
The Garda helicopter has maintained a near round-the-clock presence in Limerick since the gangland killing of Mr Ryan, who had aligned himself with the notorious McCarthy-Dundon faction before his death.
It emerged yesterday that a community policing sergeant and three extra community gardaí had been appointed for the Moyross area.