Courts / Limerick / Report

Man admits to providing getaway transport in Christy Keane shooting

Summary

John Costello, 41, of Kileely, Limerick City, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to providing transport to persons allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Christy Keane on 29 June 2015. He also admitted to knowing or believing others were guilty of an arrestable offence and providing transport to impede their apprehension, contrary to Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. The prosecution withdrew an original charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, alleging Costello facilitated the attempted murder of Keane for the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, replacing it with the Section 7(2) charge. Detective Sergeant Padraig O'Dwyer served the Book of Evidence on Costello regarding the new charge. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, adjourned the matter to 30 March for sentence. Co-accused Noel Price, 44, and Larry McCarthy, 44, both of Limerick City, remain charged with making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation to facilitate the attempted murder of Keane between 27 and 29 June 2015. Keane survived the shooting at the University of Limerick in 2015 after escaping via a running track.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man admits to providing getaway transport in Christy Keane shooting. Charges or matters: providing transport to persons allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on 29 June, 2015; 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; making a vehicle available to a criminal organisation, the McCarthy-Dundons, in the attempted murder of Mr Christy Keane, also between 27-29 June, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 2015 Incident
• 29 June Incident
• 30 March Adjournment
• 2023-03-08 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report