Two of Limerick's most feared criminals arrested in €50,000 heroin seizure

The two brothers - described by a Garda as "senior members of the Keane Collopy gang" - were arrested in a house in St Mary's Park (Tuesday evening).

An estimated €50,000 worth of heroin was seized by Gardaí in the planned house raid which sung into force around 6.40pm.

It's understood the heroin was laid out on a kitchen table in the house when armed Gardaí stormed the property.

The arrest of the siblings, aged 43 and 40, is seen by senior Gardaí as a major coup for the force in Limerick.

The two suspects are being detained at Henry Street Garda Station, under the provisions of section 2 of the Criminal Justice ((Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

They can be held for up to seven days without charge.

"It was an excellent operation. It was up there with the best we've ever done," revealed a senior Garda source.

"The gang is well connected all around the country and has links with other serious in Dublin," they added.

The operation was jointly led by the Drugs Squad at Henry Street Garda Station and the Crime Office based at Mayorstone Garda Station on the north of the city.

Members of the armed Regional Support Unit provided back up to local armed Garda units during the planned operation.

The brothers who have convictions for threats to kill, intimidating witnesses, unpaid taxes, and forking out a massive sum to the Criminal Assets Bureau under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The pair are close associates of Christy Keane, the brother of former crime boss Kieran Keane, who was murdered in January 2003.

The brothers' sworn enemies are the Ryan/McCarthy and Dundon mobs.

Christy Keane miraculously survived an attempted hit on his life when he was shot three times last June.