Friend of missing brothers 'very shaken' by the experience

As the search continued yesterday for missing Limerick brothers Kieran and Eddie Ryan, the mother of another young man who was with the Ryans when they were abducted said her son had been "very shaken" by the experience.

Gardaí conceded they have received no information on the men's whereabouts and that they had chosen to search countryside north of Limerick city and into Clare simply because it was the most likely escape route used by the abductors. The Army yesterday said it would provide troops for the search for as long as gardaí requested them but fears were growing locally that the search may be scaled back if the men are not found before the weekend.

Ms Regina Costelloe said her son, Christopher, and his friends now seriously feared the gang feud linked to the double abduction will result in bloodshed.

"The boys are afraid it will happen, that it will get out of hand even further. They have been out searching for their friends for the last few days but who knows what's going to happen in the weeks ahead."

Ms Costelloe's son was with the Ryans when they were abducted by armed and masked men on Moylish Road in north Limerick city last Thursday night. He managed to flee the scene on foot but not before a shot was fired by the abductors which left fragments of pellets lodged in his jacket.

"The guards were on the scene within minutes," Ms Costelloe said. "They couldn't have been any quicker.

"I'm obviously relieved Christopher is OK but we're all devastated for Mary Ryan because of what she is going through. Somebody has that woman's boys dead or alive.

"We are all hoping they are alive but at this stage there is probably only a 10 per cent chance that they are."

It also emerged yesterday that a christening planned for Kieran Ryan's daughter, Kelsey, is to be postponed until her father's whereabouts are known.

The search for the brothers was yesterday concentrated on the Cratloe Woods area in Co Clare, about seven miles from Limerick city. Specialist Garda search teams from Cork and Clare had been drafted in to assist local gardaí and troops from Sarsfield Barracks.

Chief Supt Gerry Kelly said gardaí in Limerick city may need to re-examine how they have been investigating the gang feud linked to the abductions. The search, now into its sixth day, was due to resume this morning. Supt Willie Keane, who is leading the search, said there had been no progress yesterday .