After 15 years of broadcasting, Radio Limerick One was put off the air last week. COMREG officials,who enforce radio licence laws along with Gardai swooped on a premises on William Street at 10pm last Thursday.

RLO does not have a licence to broadcast legally in Ireland.

Well known Limerick personality Gerry Hannan was live at the time and said he took absolute responsibility for RLO.

"I felt like a gangland criminal," said Mr Hannan. "I heard pounding footsteps outside my door then all these men burst in, I thought I was being robbed.

They dismantled my entire studio and removed all the equipment," said Mr Hannan.

He estimates about €20,000 of equipment was taken away.

"RLO is essentially good. The only thing I don't have is a government licence. All they're doing is depriving elderly people of their radio station.

Gerry Hannan

"Its primary purpose was to reach out to old people living alone or to people in nursing homes and hospitals," said Mr Hannan.

One of the most popular contributors to the radio station was arguably the best known priest in Limerick Fr Joe Young.

He says all they were doing was bringing a little bit of joy and happiness into the homes of people.

He says mass in Bawnmore every Thursday morning but he had to cancel it this week because of the number tearful phone calls he got.

"People crying on the phone have been ringing all morning. I sometimes wonder which people have learning disabilities," said Fr Young.

"For the housebound, those in Milford Hospice, those in institutions or for those alone we made a difference. It was a labour of love, who were we a threat to?" he adds.

Another popular regular on RLO was former Limerick hurling manager Tom Ryan."I'm shocked that this could happen, It's a shameful attack. Nobody made a shilling from RLO," said Mr Ryan.

However, there is some good news for fans of the station. "I'll be back on the air in a matter of days," vowed Mr Hannan