Man charged with murder of Shane Geoghegan

A man has been charged with the murder of Shane Geoghegan.

23 year old Barry Doyle from Portland Row in Dublin but living at Hyde Road in Limerick was charged at 3.15pm today at Bruff Garda station with the murder of Garryowen rugby player Shane Geoghegan who was shot dead last year in Dooradoyle.

When charged, the defendant replied “I’ve nothing to say”

The defendant, wearing a grey hooded top with '76' written on the front, stood silently during the brief 4 minute hearing where his state solicitor said he would be applying for bail. Judge Tom O Donnell said the issue of bail is a matter for the High Court.

He remanded Mr. Doyle in custody until a further hearing on March 6th.

Doyle was one of the 8 people remaining in custody since this week’s raids and arrests. It’s reported by local radio that the remaining seven people will be released from custody very soon.

There was a heavy armed Garda presence around the courtroom for the hearing.

28 year old Shane Geoghegan was shot dead not far from his home in the Kilteragh housing estate in the early hours of November 9th 2008.

7 released in Geoghegan investigation

Gardai investigating the murder of Dooradoyle rugby player Shane Geoghegan last November say they have have released 7 of the 15 people that were detained in relation to the investigation.

Gardai say they were released overnight without charge and stressed their investigations are still on-going.

This leaves 8 people remaining in custody today.

Man sentenced to 3 years for city stab attack

A man who carried out a vicious assault on another man in the city two years ago has been jailed at Limerick Circuit Court.

27 year old Gerard Bourke had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after he stabbed his 24 year old victim in the neck on Cecil Street on the 16th of April 2007.

The victim was sitting in a car on the street when Mr. Bourke approached and stabbed him multiple times in the neck and shoulder.

In court Thursday Judge Carroll Moran said he was “bound by the prescribed maximum sentence for the offence of 5 years” which he said “in some cases is too low.”

Judge Moran then proceeded to sentence the defendant to 3 and half years in jail, backdating it to October of last year when he was arrested.

The judge said he had to take into account the defendant’s guilty plea when handing out the sentence.

Gardai granted more time to question Geoghegan suspects

(updates , adds new arrest, 10:19pm)

A judge has granted Gardai additional time to question people who were arrested this week in connection with the murder of Shane Geoghegan.

The Leader reported late Wednesday night that Gardai were granted the extension for 10 people who were detained on Tuesday.

The court was told at Wednesdays hearing that 5 of those being held are held on suspicion of murder. The other 5 are being held on suspicion of withholding information.

An extension application for the remaining 4 people is expected to be made today.

NEW DETAILS (4.29pm)
One man who was being held in Limerick has been released without charge this afternoon. A file will be prepared for The Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to his detention.13 people still being held.

NEW DETAILS (5.39pm)
A 15th person has been arrested as part of the investigation into the murder. The man in his 20's was detained in Weston yesterday. 14 people are now currently in custody.

A national radio report describes this latest arrest as a ‘significant development’ in the case.

NEW DETAILS (7.13pm)
A decision is expected to be made tonight on whether to charge or release five of those whose periods of detention are due to expire tomorrow morning, the Limerick Leader reported tonight.

NEW DETAILS (8:23pm)
The 23 year old man who was arrested yesterday has appeared before a special sitting of Limerick District Court tonight.

At the hearing Gardai requested that he be further detained for another 24 hours. It was granted by Judge Tom O' Donnell.

NEW DETAILS (10:17pm)
Gardai now say a 37 year old woman has been arrested this evening in Limerick City in relation to the ongoing investigation.She is being held at Ennis Garda station under section 30 of The Offences Against The State Act.

15 people are now currently in custody.

Report: 'Hitman' one of 14 arrested in Geoghegan murder investigation

A Dublin based hitman is one of 14 people in garda custody following yesterday’s raids in the hunt for the killers of Shane Geoghegan, a national newspaper has revealed.

The Evening Herald reports the man who is in his 20s was one of the many arrested in Limerick. The paper reports the detained man is “suspected of murdering” the 28 year old Dooradoyle rugby player.

The Dublin man arrested is well known to gardai in the capital and was an associate of Paddy Doyle, who himself worked as an enforcer for the south Dublin crime gang led by criminal 'Fat' Freddie Thompson. Paddy Doyle was murdered in Spain last year.

The arrested Dubliner is believed to have fired the shots that killed Geoghegan early on November 9 last, after a senior member of the McCarthy-Dundon crime gang wrongly identified the innocent rugby player as a rival gangster. Both the Dubliner and the senior gang member fled the country after the killing, but the Dubliner returned home while the other man has remained in London, where he has a large number of family contacts. Friends and family members from Limerick visited him over Christmas.
Via Evening Herald

A total of 14 people were arrested yesterday by Gardai working on Shane Geoghegan’s murder case. The 14, 7 men and 7 women are all currently detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act and Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act.

12 of the 14 were arrested on the south side of Limerick City.

Shane Geoghegan was shot dead yards from his home in the Kilteragh housing estate in the early hours of November 9th 2008 by a killer who mistook him for a rival gangland criminal that lives nearby.

Massive oil spill on the N69 Foynes Road

County Limerick Fire services and County Council workers are at the scene of a major oil spillage on the N69.

The oil spill is believed to be stretching for over 20km from the village of Kildimo to Foynes and is affecting the outgoing lane leaving Kildimo. Units of Foynes and Rathkeale fire services are dealing with the spillage which was reported to Gardai around 9am this morning.

The road remains open however Gardai are advising all road users to avoid the N69 from Foynes to Kildimo.

Limerick man jailed following rape conviction

A Limerick man who raped a woman in her Tipperary home has been jailed at the Central Criminal Court this morning.

31 year old Roger Ryan who is a native of the Clonlong Halting Site next to O'Malley Park was sentenced to 10 years in jail this morning after he was found guilty during his trial in January.

Mr Justice Carney told the defendant it was "a highly aggravating factor" that he had broken into the woman's house in the middle of the night.

The victim bravely told the judge that the rape had “seriously affected” her and that recently she had “felt suicidal”.

Ryan was found guilty by 10-2 majority at a trial in Clonmel last month. The attack happened on June 16th, 2006. Ryan has 85 previous convictions to his name including kidnap and assault.

BreakingNews.ie has the story background.

14 arrested in Geoghegan murder probe

70 Gardai involved in dawn swoops in Tipperary, Limerick and Dublin

There have been fresh developments in the case of murdered Garryowen rugby player Shane Geoghegan this morning.

Gardai investigating the murder of the 28 year old have arrested 14 people as part of the ongoing inquiry into the killing. They were arrested when Gardai from National Bureau Of Criminal Investigation conducted an operation this morning at 7 a.m.

Its believed 6 males and 6 females were arrested as part of pre-planned searches in Limerick, Tipperary and Dublin and are aged from their teens to the 40’s. Gardai confirmed that a further two people, a man and a woman were arrested around 11am in Limerick City, bringing the total arrested to 14.

The location in Tipperary was being closely monitored by Gardai for a period of time prior to the raid and it’s reported that heroin was also seized at that location.

Gardai said this evening that of the people detained 12 of them, 6 males and 6 females, were arrested on the south side of Limerick City and they are currently detained at Garda Stations in the Limerick City and county area and at Ennis, Co. Clare.

One woman was arrested in Dublin and is currently being held at Ballymun Garda Station and a second woman was arrested in the Bansha Area of Tipperary. She is being detained at Cahir Garda Station.

All can be held for up to 72 hours before being either released or charged.

Garda Inspector Seamus Ruane spoke to the media this morning saying,

“Principally the arrests this morning are totally connected with the investigation into the murder of Shane Geoghegan. We’re satisfied with the progress that was made so far and indeed the arrests that were conducted today and obviously the people that were arrested this morning have been detained under the provisions of Section 30 and will be interviewed at length.”

In January two people were arrested and questioned in relation to the murder. They were never charged. A file was sent to the DPP following those arrests.

Searches

Searches were also carried out in the Weston area today in the hunt for any evidence in the case.

Check out some photos of the searches on The Limerick Leader - The Chalkboard Blog.

Photo: Press 22

Limerick success at the Oscars

This is Michael O'Connor, a past pupil of St Fergus' National School in Glin, Co. Limerick.


Last night he won an Oscar at the Academy Awards in L.A for the Costume Design work he carried out in the movie drama, "The Duchess".

Michael's father Thomas emigrated from Glin to London, where Michael was born, but the family made a number of attempts to resettle in Limerick in the 1970's, when Michael went to school at St Fergus and later at Tarbert Comprehensive.
Via Limerick Leader

The film tells the story of an 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.

Oscar.com - Michael O'Connors Acceptance Speech

Weston gun attack leaves one injured

A man has been injured in a shooting attack in Weston overnight.

A lone gunman approached a house in Raheen Square around 3.50am this morning and proceeded to open fire on a downstairs window. A 21 year old occupant of the house was hit in the back a number of times.

A number of other people who were in the house at the time took cover and were not injured. The gunman then fled on foot. Gardai arrived on the scene a short time later and the injured man was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital however his injuries are said to be minor.

Technical examinations are expected to be carried out later today at the scene of the attack. Gardai are examining whether the attack was part of the long running Limerick feud or a development in a local Weston area conflict.

NEW DETAILS
Local radio reports that a second shooting occurred overnight. Reports say a man was confronted by a lone Gunman in Singland Park around 1am. A shot was fired but no one was injured.

The gunman fled on foot and no arrests have been made in either case.

German TV bit on Limerick and drugs

Cheers to Shane for letting us know about this.

A German TV station is running a series looking a drug smuggling in Europe. The series seems to be looking at how drugs are smuggled into small towns from what we can gather. As part of the report, the media loving Limerick gang member Jimmy Collins talks to their reporters as well as local Solicitor John Devane.

Its in German but take a look anyway shur.



The German to englsih traslation on the article reads.

"Limerick Killing

Ireland has become a conduit for drugs into Europe . The consequences of getting a small town feel: contemplative Limerick in two combat drug clans. Even innocent people find themselves in the firing line.

By Björn Stasche, ARD studio London"


Not sure whether there will be more parts on Limerick to come.

Limerick Quick Hits

This and that from here and there.

In a sure sign of the times, it's being reported this weekend that as the Castletroy Park Hotel was reopening in this week under the new Carlton management, Bosses said they had received 2,500 applications for the 120 positions that were on offer. 1,900 of them were received in a 48-hour period, says the Irish Times.

Girl band 'Black Daisy', which is fronted by local Garryowen singer Lesley-Ann Halvey, will be gunning for a chance to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest on the Late Late Show tonight, however, as the Limerick Blogger reports, Lesley-Ann has been sidelined as lead vocals. Squid explains.

Limerick continues to draw media attention from outside the national borders in this economic crisis. BBC man James Helm writes on his visit to Limerick following the Dell news and ‘how we’re coping’. God help us. BBC News Article.

If you’re looking forward to seeing snooker player ‘The Hurricane’ Alex Higgins in Limerick next month then bad news my friends, he’s been dropped from the charity event next month after he allegedly launched a tirade of verbal abuse at spectators at a snooker event and even told a Referee in Kildare, “ill stick his cue up your arse”. More Here.

There is disruption on rail services to and from Limerick this weekend, If your travelling by rail over the next few days then we advise you read this Limerick Leader report and check with Irish Rail before you set off.

Real Madrid are on their way to playing at Thomand Park according to the Limerick Leader. The paper says talks between officials from all sides are “at an advanced stage” to bring the superstar laden Spanish team to Limerick.Leader Article.

Limerick has been selected to host the opening Test of this year's International Rules Series. The game against the Australians will happen at the Gaelic Grounds and will go ahead on October 24. The match which will see the best Irish Gaelic footballers take on the best from the Australian Football League is likely to attract a capacity crowd of 50,000 people.

Man jailed for Limerick sex assault

A 46 year old father of three children has been sent to prison today after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting his partner’s 13 year old daughter.

The County Limerick man, who unfortunately cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed today at Limerick Circuit Court for two years for sexually assaulting the girl in front of her 2 year old brother in February 2007.

The court heard the girl was sexually assaulted in the sitting room of her home while her mother was at work, and while her two-year-old brother, who was the son of the accused, was also in the room.

The man continued to try to assault her as she escaped to a bedroom upstairs, where he attempted to kick the door down.The 13-year-old raised the alarm when her mother returned from work and following a medical examination doctors confirmed her injuries were consistent with that of a sexual assault. She also suffered multiple bruising.
Via RTE News

Upon sentencing The Judge took into account a report from the ‘Granada Institute’ which concluded the defendant is “at low risk of re-offending”. He sentenced him to four years with the last two suspended. He also ruled he must be added to the sex offenders' register when he is released from prison.

The defendant cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the young victim.

Bus stoppages on the way for Limerick

As the 'spring of discontent' builds among public and civil service workers as of late, Limerick along with the rest of the country will suffer as Bus Eireann unions have announced a series of national work stoppages for the end of this month and March.

The move stems from the news that Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann are to go ahead with cost cutting measures including the slashing of hundreds of jobs from the companies.

The National Bus and Rail Union or NBRU, said the first stoppage will take place on Saturday February 28th followed by a two day stoppage on March 9th/10th. The first stoppage will occur on the same day as Ireland take on England at Croke Park while the two day stoppage will target the worker commute on a Monday and Tuesday.

Dublin Bus is cutting jobs by 290, with 160 of them being drivers. Bus Eireann is reported to be planning 322 redundancies nationally, with 110 of them being drivers.

More public sector strikes are expected.

Reuters: Tale of two cities in battle for jobs

Below is a Reuters Feature on Limerick, Dell and the Jobs crisis. It’s good. Accurate?, well that’s up to you.

Have a Read.

LIMERICK, Ireland/LODZ, Poland (Reuters) - Limerick's mayor John Gilligan has a warning for the Poles who last month scored a foreign investment coup at his city's expense: beware, you may suffer the same fate in a few years.

In the city dubbed Ireland's "Stab City" for its gangland murders, the official is still fuming over a decision by Dell, the world's No. 2 PC maker, to move its European manufacturing base away to Lodz in fellow European Union member Poland.

Dell's move, cutting 1,900 of 3,000 jobs at its Limerick plant in Ireland's southwest, aims to benefit from lower costs in Poland where the minimum wage is one-fifth of Ireland's.

It also suggests a symbolic reversal of one of the signature trends of early 21st-century Europe: Poles and other East Europeans flocking in millions to work in the fast-growing service and construction industries of the West.Up to 2 million Poles are believed to have sought work abroad since Poland joined the EU in 2004, but a poll in Ireland in November indicated a third of its estimated 200,000 Polish immigrants planned to leave within a year.

Commenting on Dell's decision, spokesman Rafal Branowski said a factor was the Polish city's proximity to markets in central and eastern Europe, which he said are likely to resume rapid growth after the recession.

The European Commission is also investigating 52.7 million euros ($68 million) in aid Poland gave to Dell's Polish unit.

It's all particularly galling for Limerick, to some extent already bypassed by the boom when Ireland was known as a "Celtic Tiger." Now Ireland's economy is expected to contract by 4 percent in 2009 in its worst recession on record.

"I am very, very bitter about this," Gilligan said. But he noted wage levels in Poland -- a European Union member since 2004 -- are converging with those in Western Europe.
"Dell will probably head for Ukraine in six to eight years' time."

HUNGER AND ALCOHOLISM

Limerick, made famous by the book and film "Angela's Ashes" chronicling the poverty, hunger and alcoholism endemic in the slums where author Frank McCourt grew up, depended on Dell. Besides the factory, it has a university and nearby Shannon airport, a transatlantic gateway, brought some business."We were over-reliant on Dell. We shouldn't have put all our eggs in one basket," said Gilligan.

Nonetheless, he said Ireland -- Limerick included -- could still not compete on cost with East European countries.

According to a government report in 2007, Limerick had a uniquely high concentration of social housing: 42 percent of 18,900 city center houses were built as social housing. Unemployment in deprived pockets was five times the national average, with a high proportion of one-parent families and educational attainment well below the national norm.

"Violent crime, related both to gang rivalry and drugs, is now a very serious issue and is gradually extending over wider areas," the report said. In Lodz (pronounced "Woodge"), the mood is far from triumphalist: Poland's third largest city was itself also once a byword for poverty and post-communist racketeering.

Reliant in the past on textiles, Lodz's unemployment rose to nearly 30 percent in the 1990s after it was flooded with cheap Chinese imports and state investment fell off.

With rising prosperity, officials in the city are keenly aware that Poland's labor costs are growing, and with them the danger that its competitiveness will wane. "We are aware that Dell moved here from somewhere else. And they could leave Lodz one day, just as they have left Limerick," said Marek Cieslak, president of the board of Lodz special economic zone which offers tax incentives to foreign investors.

BUSINESS HUB
The industrial city of 750,000 people 135 km (84 miles) southwest of Warsaw has transformed itself through an ambitious urban renewal program into a major business hub, attracting international companies such as Siemens, Procter and Gamble, Infosys, Hilton and Fujitsu, as well as Dell.

"Our clients say 'this is the best place in Europe, thank God for Poland'," said Warren Landers, an Irish property consultant based in the city. Unemployment in Lodz is 6 percent, although local officials say that is expected to edge up to 9 percent, mirroring the national trend as economists expect Poland's growth to slow to less than 2 percent this year.

Lodz has benefited from diversification. Cieslak identified information technology, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics as areas likely to show strong growth and stressed the benefits of its pool of 120,000 university students.

There is also genuine optimism: in Manufaktura, for example, is a 200-million-euro investment built on the site of a former textile mill that includes cinemas, restaurants, bars, discos and museums.

"We don't feel any slowdown in business at the moment because of the global recession," said its director Slawomir Murawski, forecasting visitor numbers this year would rise by 5 percent from nearly 19 million people, and turnover by 10 percent from 600 million zlotys in 2008.
A new motorway linking Lodz to Germany should also be ready in time for the Euro 2012 soccer tournament which Poland is due to co-host with Ukraine, he said.

Poles shopping in the city on an icy winter's day welcomed Dell's move, somewhat wryly.
"This is a great opportunity for Lodz," said Przemyslaw Kuszarek, 25, who recently became unemployed. "When the textile industry left Lodz for China, nobody kicked up a fuss."
Back in Limerick, residents facing job losses refer to a fighting spirit they say has helped in past crises and will see them through this one.

"So many companies did so well here. Dell is a great example," said Mike Boland, whose organization helps young people from the Northside area of Limerick with many poor, crime-ridden neighborhoods: "Limerick has proven that it is able to work within the global market. I don't think there is any reason it won't do that in the future."

(Writing by Gareth Jones; editing by Andrew Dobbie and Sara Ledwith)

One questioned following feud shooting

A man who was shot in the knee in Weston Friday night, was targeted as part of a local running feud in the area, according to published reports today.

The victim was approached by a lone gunman and shot in the knee at Clarina Avenue around 10.30pm Friday night. Locals in the area came to his aide and he was taken by car to the Mid Western Regional Hospital, not waiting for an ambulance to arrive. The gunman fled the scene on foot.

Gardai now believe this incident is linked to a fragmentary feud on the southside of the city,

“Gardai believe the gunman was ordered by leading members of the McCarthy-Dundon gang to shoot the young man.
…
The alleged culprit is also from the city's southside and is well known to gardai from previous criminal investigations.

It is believed that the incident may be connected to a localised feud on the southside of Limerick between the McCarthy-Dundon gang and another outfit based in the Southill area of the city, the Curtin gang.”
Via Irish Independent

A man was arrested following the incident and was interviewed by investigating Gardai. He has since been released and investigations are described as ongoing.

The victim remained in hospital over the weekend.

Ryanair plane makes emergency landing at Shannon

A Ryanair plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Shannon Airport this afternoon following a problem with a tyre, NewsWire understands.

The passenger plane which was travelling from the UK contacted Shannon to say a one of its tyres had burst, shortly beofre 4pm this afternoon. After circling the airport for a short while, the plane landed safely around 4.15pm.

It's reported emergency services from around Clare and north Limerick were put on standby as the plane circled the airport.

The plane was carrying 177 passengers and crew and no injuries have been reported.

NEW DETAILS (1.18am Monday)

Irish Times reports this morning,

"The aircraft carried out a low-level fly past over the airport’s main runway so that fire crews on the ground could visually inspect the landing gear as the aircraft flew past.

After nothing unusual was observed in the undercarriage, air traffic controllers contacted the pilot and advised him that he could land. The jet touched down safely just minutes later under the watchful eyes of crash crews."

Man injured in Weston shooting

A man is recovering in hospital after he was injured in a shooting incident Friday night.

The man, thought to be in his early 20’s was shot in the knee in the incident which happened around 10.30pm at a house in Clarina Avenue, Weston.

He was taken to the mid western regional hospital by car however his injuries are not thought to be serious.

Gardai are investigating.

447 jobs lost as Banta to cease operations at Raheen

“A further disaster for Limerick, the workers and their families”

477 jobs are to be lost with the closure of the Banta (RR Donnelley)plant in the Raheen Industrial Estate.

The job losses will be on a phased basis over the next nine months according to a statement released by the company.

The decision, which was announced this evening, was inevitable given that Dell was the company's main client.

The decision was a result of 'customer's shifts in strategic direction' as well as global economic conditions, the company said.

The company, whose global headquarters are in Chicago, provides print and related services to businesses around the world.
Via RTE News

Limerick TD Kieran O'Donnell, deputy spokesperson for Fine Gael has said in the last while,

"I understand these job losses will be on a phased basis over the next nine months. I would like to extend my full sympathy to the staff and their families who face a very uncertain future. It is essential that a fair redundancy package is put in place which reflects the years of dedication put in by the loyal staff members.

These are highly skilled workers with years of experience working for a leading global company. It should be possible to find an alternative contract, and I am urging the Government and leading State agencies to immediately engage with Banta to find new business for the plant."

Workers at a company which works hand in hand with Dell in the Raheen Industrial Estate had been told on January 8th, the day Dell made their announcement, that their jobs at Banta were “on the line”.

Two weeks later SIPTU union officials said the company’s contracts with Dell were to be phased out during this year.

NEW DETAILS
More reaction from Limerick Labour TD Jan O'Sullivan,

"Following the news that 477 jobs are to go at Limerick company RR Donnelly, (formerly Banta) I sympathise with the workers who find themselves losing their jobs. Every effort must be made to get alternative business for the company.

As sad as the new is it was expected as their main client and the likelihood this news was clearly signalled at the time. Given this was expected the Government should have engaged earlier to try and get alternative business for the company"

Man gets 3 years for screwdriver attack on teen

A man who repeatedly stabbed a 15 year old boy in the back leaving him with serious injuries including a collapsed lung has been jailed for 3 years today.

30 year old Mark Milstein from St Francis Place on Nicholas Street had already pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the 15 year old boy in the incident which happened on the 1st of March 2008.

Before sentencing today, Limerick Distract Court was told of how the 15 year old was set upon in Moyross in broad daylight and stabbed with a screwdriver,

The court heard that the victim had become aware he was being followed by a group of 3 men in a Fiat Punto and was attempting to gain entry to the house when they caught up with him.

He told gardai one of the men, described in court as Mr X said `Now we have him` and began punching him, knocking him to the ground before grabbing his neck to hold him up again.
Via Live95FM News

It was left to Judge Carroll Moran to sentence the defendant to three years however he backdated the sentence to July 2008.

Limerick man missing 9 years today

“Somebody somewhere may know something”

A fresh appeal has been made for any information on the whereabouts of a Limerick man who is missing 9 years today.

Aengus Shanahan disappeared on February 11th, 2000 after a night out with friends in Limerick City.

The young man known as 'Gussie' and from Ashbrook on the Ennis Road was last seen on cctv that night leaving the then Coopers Bar on Joseph Street at 11.30pm.

“He was born in 1980 and is 5ft 10 inches and walks with a slight stoop forward: eye colour is blue. He was wearing dark blue jeans with a blue top and a red, white and blue adidas jacket. If you have any information please contact the Gardaí at Henry St.”

The missing mans cousin, Fr.Aquinas Duffy said this week on a missing persons website he set up following the disappearance,

“Wednesday (11 February) is the ninth anniversary of the disappearance of Aengus (Gussie) Shanahan from Limerick. To this day we still do not know what happened to him.”

As another year passes by his family plea for any information to be passed to the Gardaí at Henry St. on 061-212400 or Garda Free Phone Confidential line at 1800 666 111.

Man dies in hospital following Bruff crash

A man who was seriously injured in a traffic accident in Bruff Monday night has died in hospital.

The 34 year old was one of three men that were brought to Limerick Regional Hospital after the van in which they were travelling was involved in a collision with a truck around 6.30pm last night.

The victim who was a passenger in the van was pronounced dead earlier this evening.

Bruff Gardai are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash last night on the R512 Limerick to Bruff road to contact them on 061-382940.

NEW DETAILS
The man has been named as Jude Higgins of Ballincronna, Knocklong, Co. Limerick.

Two brothers and an uncle sentenced in shooting case

Three men who were charged in connection with a shooting incident which left a six year old girl injured last year, have been sentenced at Limerick court today.

Brothers 27 year old Paul Curtin and 39 year old Christopher Curtin had both pleaded guilty to charges of suspicious possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life at Lilac Court on the 31st of May 2008.

The young girl was injured and two cars were damaged by gunfire when 2 shots were discharged from a car which was driving around the estate. A pellet had ricocheted from one of the cars striking the 6 year old girl in the leg while she played in a front garden nearby.

In court today Chris Curtin, described as an ‘operator of an organised crime gang’ was jailed for 7 years for the possession of a twelve gauge shotgun and 11 rounds of ammunition. Paul Curtin was jailed for 3 years for hiding the weapon at a nearby shed on the same date.

Their uncle, 44 year old Eric Curtin who was the driver of the car, received a suspended sentence.

Limerick student dies in freak Cork accident

A Limerick student has been killed in a freak accident in Co Cork Monday evening.

The 21 year old Kevin Malone, from Castletroy was apparently killed when he was crushed between a car and a wall at Westbourne Park, off Magazine Road in Cork city.

Reports say the young man was trying to stop a car which began rolling off its handbrake when he became trapped against the wall. It’s reported he was on his own at the time of the incident which happened around 5pm not far from UCC.

He was rushed to hospital suffering severe injuries however he died a short time later. Gardai are expected to carry out technical examinations at the scene of the accident today.

Mr. Malone was a law student at UCC.

NEW DETAILS
Funeral details are as follows.
Reposing at Thompson's Funeral Home, Thomas Street this Wednesday evening from 4pm to 6pm followed by removal to Monaleen Church, Castletroy. Requiem Mass tomorrow, Thursday, at 1pm. Funeral afterwards to Kilmurry Cemetery.

Injuries following Bruff road crash

At least three people have been injured, one seriously following a road traffic collision in County Limerick Monday night.

Ambulances and units of the Kilmallock Fire Service responded to the scene of the crash which occurred on the main Bruff to Limerick road around 6.30pm.

Its understood the accident happened when a car and a van were involved in a head-on collision just outside the town.

A man in his 20’s and a man in his 30’s were removed form the scene by rescue services and taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital where one of them is thought to be in a serious condition. One other person has also been transferred to hospital from the scene.

AA road watch now reports the road remains closed, diversions in place and Gardai remain on point duty at the scene.

NEW DETIALS
The R512 Limerick to Bruff road has now reopened.

Crecora based firm to create 50 new jobs

50 new jobs are to be created by environmental technology firm AMCS, after the company announced today it is to expand after successfully raising €5.25m in funding and investment.

The crecora based AMCS, which develops technology for the waste and recycling sectors, already employs 50 people in at its Fanningstown plant in County Limerick.

The company says it hopes to create the new jobs over the next two years.

Gardai probe three northside fires

NewsWire is following reports of possible suspicious fires in Limerick early Monday morning.

Fire services had a hectic morning attending three fires, which all started on the city's northside. At 3am the Fire service were called to a car on fire in the driveway of a house on Brendan Street in St. Mary’s Park. The car was completely destroyed in the fire which also damaged the front of a house.

At 4am Gardai and Fire units were called to attend a fire at a house on Hartigan Villas in Moyross, its thought the house and adjoining houses were badly damaged in the fire. Finally at 6.30am emergency services were called to a fire at a chipper on Munchins Street, St. Mary’s Park.

It’s believed nobody was injured in any of the fires and Gardai at Mayorstone are investigating.

Christy Keane to be released from jail today

A prominent Limerick Gang member who was jailed in 2002 is set to be a free man today, rising tensions between rival gangs in the city.

Considered to be the leader of the Keane gang, 47 year old Christy Keane is due to be released from Portlaoise prison this morning after serving the bones of a 10 year sentence for dealing cannabis.

It is understood news of his imminent release has already prompted some residents in Lynwood Park, Singland in Limerick, to move out of the area, while local councillors have appealed for calm.

There have been a number of gang-related incidents in the city in advance of his release from prison, including the burning-out of four vehicles allegedly belonging to the Keane family in different parts of the city three weeks ago. Gardaí fear the return to the city of 48-year-old Keane will do little to quell the feud between the Keane Collopys and the McCarthy Dundons.

There have also been appeals for the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to investigate whether Christy Keane’s house in Singland was bought with the proceeds of crime.
Via Examiner

Before being sent to prison, Keane was considered by many to be the ‘undisputed Godfather of crime’ in Limerick. His brother 36-year-old Kieran Keane was stabbed six times and shot in the head in 2003 while his son, Liam Keane has only just been sent to prison for 10 years on gun charges.

On edge Gardai will undoubtedly monitor Mr. Keane initially following his release as they fear his release may spark fresh violence. One Garda source tells a national newspaper, “if he's just out of prison, he wouldn't want to go back in".

Reports: Publisher may sell Limerick Leader to pay debts

It’s being reported this weekend that the regional newspaper publisher Johnston Press, which publishes The Limerick Leader here along with many other regional newspapers, could sell some of its titles as it tries to reduce its mounting £465 million debt.

Numerous articles have appeared in Sunday newspapers reporting on how the media group has already brought in financier Raglan Capital to handle any offers for its Irish newspapers,

The titles for sale include the 'Leinster Leader', the 'Kilkenny People', the 'Nationalist', the 'Limerick Leader', the 'Tipperary Star' and the 'Tallaght Echo'.

The group's printing presses in Limerick and Kilkenny are also understood to be covered by the sale, which is being carried out by Dublin-based Raglan Capital.

The total package is expected to fetch upwards of €70m, leaving Johnston Press with a hefty writedown on the estimated €250m it spent compiling its Irish portfolio.

The Limerick Leader is owned by Limerick Leader Ltd, a holding company of Johnston Press. It was reported today that Raglan approached the Johnston group offering a proposal to find a buyer for its Irish titles.

The Leader newspaper is a prominent mainstay of Limerick media and was founded in 1889.In 2002 the ‘Leinster Leader newspaper group’ bought the Limerick Leader for close to €23 million.

"Johnston puts its 14 Irish newspapers up for sale" - Irish Independent
"KPMG called in at Johnston" – Sunday Times

Occupants attacked in aggravated burglary

An aggravated burglary on a house in Limerick Saturday night has left its occupants with minor injuries.

Local radio reports that residents of a house on the South Claughaun Road, Garryowen were confronted by two raiders who assaulted them and then proceeded to flee the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The incident is reported to have occurred around 3.30am.

The scene was preserved for technical examination by investigating Gardai and anyone with information that may be able to help Gardai are asked to contact them on (061) 212427.

Carlton group to take over Castletroy park hotel

The Castletroy Park Hotel is to reopen shortly after a deal was struck with Carlton Hotel Group to take over the hotel.

In a statement tonight this evening Michael Kearney, chairman of the Carlton group said,

“We are particularly aware of the distress caused by the closure of the hotel to those who had booked weddings and events and would like to assure all customers that we will be in contact as soon as possible to confirm booking details."

The hotel is expected to reopen within the next 10 days and is to be renamed the 'Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel', employing 120 staff.

The hotel is one of the largest hotels in Limerick and had gone into liquidation last week citing trading difficulties.

Limerick Quick Hits

This and that from here and there.

:: The Fine Gael party has published a series of measures to support the Mid West including Limerick as the regions economy continues to be battered by job cuts. They include a new “Centre for Energy Innovation and a special company support programme”. The proposals are designed to “support those directly affected by redundancy, businesses in the region and the region itself.”Read more Here
Download the Document with the 13 proposals Here

:: A man accused of the unlawful possession of a sawn-off shotgun with intent to endanger life has been acquitted at Limerick District Court. 21 year old Ian Brennan had insisted that 20 year old Liam “Baby” Kelly had shot him on September 23rd 2007. It took the jury just one hour to reach their verdict.

:: The persistence of 1,900 Dell workers at Raheen who are set to lose their jobs this year has secured them a much improved redundancy package. Workers will now get 6 weeks pay per year and shift allowances are also taken into account. More Here.

:: Shannon airport has taken a blow this week after Ryanair announced it is to cut 100 jobs at the airport and reduce the number its routes from 30 to 25. Its being reported that a further 700 support jobs will be lost at the airport. Ryanair CEO Michael O Leary blames the €10 Airport tax introduced in last Octobers budget for having a "damaging impact" on Ryanair bookings. More Here.

:: Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt is on his way to Limerick, the Limerick Leader reports. The Jamaican holds the Olympic and world records for the 100 metres sprint and is reported to be on his way to the mid west to receive treatment from sports therapist Gerard Hartmann.
More from the Leader

'Deals on wheels' man gets 6 years in jail

A man who cycled around on a mountain bike delivering drugs ranging from cocaine to cannabis resin has been jailed at Limerick Court.

36 year old Noel Purcell from Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, had pleaded guilty back in December to having cocaine, cannabis and cannabis resin totalling to a street value of €54,600 for sale or supply.

Purcell, nicknamed “Deals on wheels” for his use of transport also pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a Glock 9mm hand gun, a Ruger Magnum revolver, a Knall pistol along with numerous rounds of ammunition.

Upon issuing sentence Judge Carroll Moran said the aggravating factor in the case was the combination of drugs and guns.

More from the Examiner

Jury sworn in for shooting trial

A Thomondgate man who is charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life has appeared at a sitting of a Limerick court Tuesday.

20 year old Liam “Baby” Kelly of Distillery View, Thomondgate denies possessing a sawn-off shotgun with the intent to endanger life of another man in 2007.

As a jury of nine men and three woman were sworn in today at Limerick Circuit Court for a trial which will begin this evening, state prosecution alleged that Liam Kelly had shot 21 year old Westbury man Ian Brennan on St. Munchin’s Street St. Mary’s Park on the night of September 23rd 2007 and caused him “serious harm”.

The trail will last until the end of the week.

Report- Million euro mid-west conference centre scrapped

The possibility of a €60 million conference centre being built in Limerick has been shelved by Minister for Tourism Martin Cullen.

Limerick was earmarked by the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation back in 2006 to be the location of a 2,000 seater international conference centre, however it’s reported today that a new independent report has questioned its economic benefit to the Mid West region and the Minister has concurred.

"The feasibility study was commissioned arising from a commitment in the programme for government in 2007. It considered three possible locations for a conference centre – all in the Limerick area – and concluded that the centre could attract 6,955 additional tourists to the Midwest every year.

In nine separate cost/benefit analysis scenarios, the report found that only three returned a positive net present value for the proposed project."
Via Irish Times

Maria Kelly, who is the chief executive of Limerick Chamber of Commerce told the paper today of her disappointment at hearing the news,

“The landscape has changed since the report was complete with the return of the Shannon Heathrow service, which gives Shannon access to two international hubs, while the customs and borders protection facility for Shannon has been announced.”

The Limerick NewsWire Blog reported in 2006 of how an initial ITIC report had stated that the center would have a “major impact on re-balancing regional growth in terms of overall economic activity.”

Emergency services attend Sunday fires

At least one person was taken to hospital following a house fire in Limerick Sunday evening.

It’s understood the fire broke out at a house on the Greenhill’s road in Garryowen around 8.15pm. A elderly woman in her 70’s was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital suffering from minor smoke inhalation. Other occupants of the house were treated at the scene.

Separately that evening emergency services attended a vehicle fire at an industrial estate on the Ballysimon Road.

The causes of both fires remain unknown this morning.