John Costello sentenced for impeding prosecution after shooting

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

John Costello was sentenced at the Special Criminal Court by Mr Justice Tony Hunt to four years and six months for providing transport to people he knew or believed had committed assault causing serious harm to Christy Keane, to impede their apprehension or prosecution.

He pleaded guilty. The proceedings were reported on 19 May 2023. The sentence was backdated to when Costello first entered prison, with whatever remained suspended for four years on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

The judge said Costello was reluctant to become involved, initially refused, and then went along after being directed. Defence counsel said his involvement came after the shooting and that he had no part in the main event. The offence related to the 29 June 2015 shooting at the University of Limerick, where Keane was seriously injured.