Courts / Limerick / Report

'Road to Damascus' criminal who provided car used in Christy Keane hit gets 6.5 years

Date
2024-03-07
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Limerick
County
Limerick

Summary

Red' Larry McCarthy was sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for his role in the attempted murder of Christy Keane. McCarthy, 45, pleaded guilty to making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, which was used as a getaway car during the shooting of Keane in June 2015. The offence, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of 10 years, reduced by 20% to eight years in mitigation for his guilty plea and positive rehabilitation efforts in Donegal. The court suspended the final 18 months of the sentence, conditional on good behaviour and probation supervision. McCarthy had already served two years, seven months, and 20 days in custody, which was credited toward the effective term. The judge noted his 14 previous convictions, including a prior UK sentence for possession of a firearm. In a related case, Noel Price was previously jailed for six-and-a-half years for assisting the same organisation with a vehicle intended to facilitate the attempted murder. The court highlighted the ongoing feud between the McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Collopy gangs, which has resulted in numerous violent offences.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Road to Damascus' criminal who provided car used in Christy Keane hit gets 6.5 years. Charges or matters: a criminal organisation, the McCarthy-Dundons, that was used as a getaway vehicle in the attempted murder of drug-dealer Keane. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Red' Larry McCarthy

Convicted Person

Charges: a criminal organisation, the McCarthy-Dundons, that was used as a getaway vehicle in the attempted murder of drug-dealer Keane (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Red' Larry McCarthy was sentenced for what Ms Justice Caroline Biggs said was the "procurement and placement" of a getaway car during the course of an "infamous" feud between crime gangs – the McCarthy-Dundons and the Keane-Collopys – in the attempted murder of veteran Limerick criminal Christy Keane. Price was jailed for having knowledge of the existence of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation, he assisted in making available a vehicle to that criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the commission by the aforesaid organisation of the attempted murder of Mr Christy Keane or being reckless as to same.

Places mentioned

Journey Or Route
Court Venue
  • Special Criminal Court
  • Old Court Road
Secondary Mention
Residence
Address Area
  • Damascus Road
Facility
  • University Hospital

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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