The attempted murder of convicted drug
dealer Christy Keane in Limerick yesterday took place just weeks after gardaí expressed fears of a re-emergence of gangland criminality which blighted the city for years.
The 54-year-old brother of murdered crime boss Kieran Keane was shot a number of times shortly before 6.45am after he was ambushed in one of the car parks on the grounds of the University of Limerick. Keane had just parked his Nissan Navara 4X4 and was making his way to an early morning gym session at the University Sports Arena when he was targeted by two masked men armed with handguns.
The well-known convicted criminal, who visits the gym a number of times a week, was shot several times in the upper body and arms but managed to flee 100 yards before collapsing on the running track behind the arena, where he was discovered by emergency crews. He was in a critical but stable condition in hospital last night.
Two handguns were recovered in a partially burned Ford Focus hatchback found in the Monaleen area shortly after the shooting. The 132 Dublin registered red Focus was one of two high-powered getaway vehicles used by the gunmen to flee the grounds of the university.
Chief suspects
A white Volvo v70 with English registration plates, believed to be the second getaway car was found in
Drombana
, Co Limerick, also partially burned out. A Garda spokesman said they were not aware of any specific threat against Mr Keane’s life, however it is understood members of a northside-based drugs gang are the chief suspects for the attempted murder.
The shooting happened just weeks after a Garda sergeant warned of an increase in hostilities between members of criminal organisations previously based in the Moyross and St Mary’s Park areas.
During a recent bail hearing at Limerick District Court Det Sergeant Padraig Byrnes said there have been “green shoots and a re-emergence of the feud which dogged the city for years”.
Speaking to the media outside Henry Street Garda station after yesterday's shooting Superintendent Derek Smart, who is leading the investigation, said they were not aware of any specific threat against Mr Keane's life.
Lawful business
“The injured party would be known to us but he was going about his lawful business. He is a married with two children, he was entitled to be where he was so the circumstances of how he became injured is very much open to us at this stage,” he added.
When asked about Garda fears for an escalation of feud-related incidents Supt Smart said gardaí are working to ensure crime-related statistics will stay down.
“It’s 2010 since the last feud-related murder occurred in Limerick. Since 2007 there were over 102 firearms incidents in the city.
"That was reduced to 10 in 2014 so the incidents are coming back down but that is due to the support the Garda Síochána is receiving from the community and the other stake-holders in the city.
“We are all working together to make sure it remains that way. Nobody wants to see any escalation of any incidents around the city at all.”
Limerick city councillor and retired detective Sean Lynch said nobody wants to see a return to the violent bloodshed of recent years but he stressed gardaí need the resources to keep on top of the criminals especially those involved in the drugs trade.
“At the end of the day this is all about drugs . . . Nobody wants to be going back to the shootings and killings.
“Too many people have been killed for nothing. We are all sick of it,” he said.