Gardaí believe a grenade attack on a house in Dublin's north inner city on Wednesday night is linked to a local feud which has already claimed one life.
The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in the escalating family related feud with gardaí in the north inner city now set to step up patrols in a bid to prevent further violence.
Gardaí were called to the Rutland Court area of Summerhill, Dublin 1, shortly before 9.40pm on Wednesday after residents reported a loud explosion.
It was initially believed a pipe bomb had been thrown at the rear of a house in the area. However, the Army's bomb disposal team carried out an examination of the scene and found the remains of a hand grenade.
The device was apparently thrown at the back of the house, causing damage to the balcony, rear patio doors and kitchen of the property. The area was sealed off by gardaí and a full technical examination carried out.
There were about 10 people in the house at the time. All escaped without injury.
Gardaí believe the attack is part of the same feud which claimed the life of Dubliner Paul Kelly last month. The 26-year-old father of two from Gardiner Street in the north inner city, was shot dead as he opened the door of a family member's apartment at about 11.45pm on Friday, April 6th, at Windsorville Apartments, Charlemont Road, Clontarf. The victim was shot six times in the head. Gardaí believe they know the identity of the gunman. He has already been interviewed by investigating officers. The suspect is expected to face criminal charges.
Mr Kelly's shooting was believed to be a revenge attack for an earlier violent incident in which he stabbed a former friend. The two are believed to have initially fallen out over a minor matter relating to damage to a motor vehicle.
After the stabbing incident and murder of Mr Kelly the feud had remained quiet. However, members of both factions clashed in a city centre location on Tuesday evening. During the altercation one woman received superficial stab wounds to her hands while a man received a blow to the head. That row was then followed by the latest attack.
Detectives are unsure if the two are directly related but they are working on the theory that both matters are part of the ongoing feud. Gardaí have stepped up patrols in the area. One of the men involved in the feud is out on bail awaiting serious charges after being implicated in a drug dealing and money laundering operation in the north inner city and north county Dublin.
The Summerhill feud is not related to another family based row in the nearby Sheriff Street area, also in the north inner city, which has claimed two lives. It was sparked when leading armed robber and drug dealer Christie Griffin (37) raped a young girl from the area.
Wednesday's grenade attack is the latest in a series of attacks in which explosive devices have been used by Dublin criminals to target their enemies.
Earlier this week a pipe bomb exploded under a car in Finglas.