Fears were mounting in Limerick last night for the safety of two brothers who were abducted at gunpoint.
Two armed men abducted Mr Eddie Ryan jnr (20), and his 19-year-old brother, Kieran, in the Ballynanty area of Limerick city on Thursday night.
The brothers are the sons of Eddie Ryan, who was shot dead in a gangland killing in the city two years ago.
Gardaí believe the abduction may be linked to a feud between two rival gangs on the north side of Limerick city which has escalated since Mr Ryan's murder in November 2000.
The two men were walking along Moylish Road in Ballynanty - close to their home - with their friend, Mr Christopher Costello, when a black car pulled up and two men wearing balaclavas and brandishing guns jumped out.
One shot was fired during the abduction and Mr Costello had pellet shots lodged in his jacket.
He managed to flee and raised the alarm before being taken to hospital. He has since been discharged.
Associates close to the two brothers gathered outside the family home yesterday where they vowed to find the gang who carried out the kidnapping.
"We know the people who have taken Eddie and Kieran," they said.
Meanwhile, Ms Mary Ryan, the abducted men's mother, remained heavily sedated at the family home in Hogan Avenue, Kileely, last night and was being comforted by family and friends.
Her daughter Serena (11), and two-year-old son Jamie, who was born just a few months after Mr Ryan was murdered, were also being comforted.
A Garda helicopter arrived from Dublin at dawn yesterday to help the search for the two men.
A full team of detectives is involved in the search and gardaí say they are "keeping all avenues open" .
"All efforts are being made to find these two boys and we are also appealing to anyone with any information to contact Henry Street Garda station on (061) 212400," said Garda Supt Willie Keane.
Less than 12 hours before Thursday night's abduction Kieran Ryan was assaulted outside Limerick Circuit Court House where he was appearing on a serious assault charge.
Counsel for Mr Ryan, Mr Brian McInerney, told the court that his client had been the victim of a "serious assault" outside the courthouse.
The case later collapsed after the key witness said that he could not remember who had attacked him.