Man pleads guilty over shooting of Limerick gangland criminal Christy Keane

ONE of three men accused of being involved in the shooting of Limerick crime figure Christy Keane in 2015, has pleaded guilty to providing transport for others in an attempt to impede the garda investigation.

Keane was shot a number of times as he parked his car on the grounds of the University of Limerick as he went for an early-morning gym session in June 2015. He managed to escape via the nearby running track and survived the shooting after being hospitalised in a critical condition.

At the Special Criminal Court, this Wednesday, John Costello, aged 41, of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, Limerick city, pleaded guilty to providing transport to persons allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on June 29, 2015.

He admitted knowing or believing another person or persons to be guilty of an arrestable offence, to wit assault causing serious harm to Christy Keane, and did without reasonable excuse provide transport to said persons to impede their apprehension or prosecution for the commission of that offence, contrary to Section 7 (2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997.

Costello had originally been charged with having knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, to wit the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, and with providing transport to persons with the intention of facilitating the commission of the attempted murder of Keane at the same location and date, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

At the non-jury court, the Section 72 charge was withdrawn by the prosecution and replaced with the Section 7 (2) charge.

Giving evidence, Detective Sergeant Padraig O'Dwyer said he served the Book of Evidence on Mr Costello regarding the new charge.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the three-judge court, alongside Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell, adjourned the matter to 30 March, for sentence.

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The second defendant - Noel Price, aged 44, of Kileely Road, Kileely, Limerick city - is charged with having knowledge of the existence of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation; that he assisted in making available a vehicle to that criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the attempted murder of Mr Christy Keane, or being reckless as to same between June 27 and June 29, 2015 at the car park.

The third defendant, Larry McCarthy, aged 44, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick city, is charged with making a vehicle available to a criminal organisation, the McCarthy-Dundons, in the attempted murder of Mr Christy Keane, also between June 27 and June 29, 2015.

They deny the charges.