Courts / Limerick / Report

Nurse out for run came to the aid of Christy Keane after gang hit, SCC hears

Date
2023-03-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing, it was reported that convicted drug dealer Christy Keane was shot 13 times on 29 June 2015 while parked at the University of Limerick gym. Two gunmen from the McCarthy‑Ryan gang fired eight shots from a Glock and five from a Luger semi‑automatic pistol. A nurse who was running nearby witnessed the attack and provided immediate medical assistance, treating four non‑life‑threatening wounds, including a lung puncture. The attackers fled in a red Ford Focus, later found burned out, and a white Volvo and black BMW were involved in transporting them. John Costello, aged 41, was charged with providing transport to the shooters and pleaded guilty to aiding an assault causing serious harm. The case was delayed over five years due to a separate Garda prosecution. Costello was remanded in custody pending sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Nurse out for run came to the aid of Christy Keane after gang hit, SCC hears. 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. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

June 2015 Incident
29 June Incident
June 29 2015 Other
June 29 Incident
July 2015 Incident
July 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
May 19 Adjournment
2023-03-30 Publication

Why: The non-jury court also heard today that it took over five years for the matter to reach court because a garda involved in the case was prosecuted in an unrelated matter "where it was alleged there was a corrupt transaction". CNI source report

Case subjects

John Costello

Defendant

Charges: 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 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell, remanded Costello in custody until May 19, when he will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell, remanded Costello in custody until May 19, when he will be sentenced.