Limerick gardai make new appeal on twentieth anniversary of Sean Poland murder

GARDAI investigating the murder of Sean Poland on the outskirts of the city almost 20 years ago have made a renewed appeal for information about his killing.

The 39-year-old was shot dead during an armed robbery at his home in Blackwater, Ardnacrusha late on New Year’s Eve 2002.

Mr Poland’s partner was tied up by an armed gang during the incident but she survived the attack, which shocked the country.

It is understood that investigating gardai suspect criminals from the city were responsible for the murder and more than 20 people have been arrested and questioned over the years.

However, despite the large number of arrests nobody has ever been charged in relation to the death.

According to gardai, Sean was out socialising with his partner at the then Round House Pub at High Street in Limerick, celebrating New Year’s Eve. They left the pub just after 11pm and headed home.

"As they were settling in for the night, the doorbell rang. Sean went to answer the door thinking it was neighbours calling to wish them a Happy New Year. As Sean opened the front door, four masked and armed raiders rushed through the door. Two of the raiders ran towards the living room and grabbed Sean’s partner. They ordered her to kneel on the floor and told her to put her hands behind her back. The raiders demanded to know where the money was," said a garda spokesperson.

After she managed to free herself Sean’s partner discovered him in the hallway, with a gunshot wound to his stomach, he was not breathing.

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An investigation has been ongoing since and the murder was featured in a TV appeal which was broadcast on Crimecall in December 2012.

Speaking on that programme, Sean Poland’s sister, Marie Horgan, spoke fondly of her brother.

"He was a great friend, a great brother. He was a big softy, he was big in size and big in heart and he would have done anything for anyone. You would never want for anything while Sean was around. He was always just a  happy fellow, no matter who came to him even with cars or anything if they hadn’t the money, he’d turn around and say ‘Sure can’t you give it to me when you have it?’

Members of Sean’s family have consistently maintained that there are individuals who have information about what happened on December 31, 2002.

On this, the 20th anniversary of his murder, gardaí continue to appeal for information in this case and believe that a number of people have yet to come forward who may now be in a position to assist in bringing those responsible to justice.

"With the passage of time some person may now be in a position to provide information to investigating gardaí that they could not provide at the time, or maybe some person who did provide information at the time may be now in a position to provide further information," said a spokesperson

Anyone with information can contact investigating gardaí at Mayorstone garda station in Limerick at (061) 456 980.