Ireland Case No. 7766Assisting a criminal organisation in attempted murder · Co. Limerick · 27 Jun 2015
Man sentenced over getaway car in Limerick attempted murder
Christy Keane, a convicted drug dealer, was shot four times by two gunmen as he parked his car at the University of Limerick on 29 June 2015, surviving after escaping via a nearby running track. John Costello, 41, pleaded guilty in March 2023 to providing transport to the shooters and was sentenced in May 2023 to four years and six months with the remainder suspended. Noel Price, 44, pleaded guilty in June 2023 to assisting the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation with a vehicle and was jailed for six and a half years in July 2023. Larry McCarthy, 44, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to making a getaway vehicle available to the gang and was sentenced in March 2024 to six and a half years' imprisonment.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court8 Mar
4 reports - Convicted16 Jun
2 reports - Sentenced19 May
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Christy Keane was shot four times by two gunmen as he parked his car at the University of Limerick on 29 June 2015, surviving after escaping via a nearby running track.
- Thirteen rounds were fired into Keane's Nissan pickup, and the gunmen departed in a Ford Focus later burned out at Annacotty before transferring to a white Volvo Estate also set on fire at Drombanna.
- When
- The offence is alleged to have occurred between 27 and 29 June 2015.
- Cause
- The shooting arose from the Limerick feud between the McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Collopy gangs, which dates back to 1993.
- Weapon
- A Glock semi-automatic pistol was found in the burned-out Ford Focus and a Luger pistol in the white Volvo Estate, both forensically linked to the shooting.
- Charges
- John Costello was charged under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997 with providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane.
- Noel Price and Larry McCarthy were each charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 with making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation.
- In court
- All three defendants appeared before the Special Criminal Court, a non-jury court.
- Sentence
- John Costello was sentenced in May 2023 to four years and six months' imprisonment, backdated, with the remainder suspended for four years on condition of good behaviour.
- Noel Price was sentenced in July 2023 to seven years and six months' imprisonment with the final year suspended.
- Larry McCarthy was sentenced in March 2024 to six and a half years' imprisonment.
- Other details
- The case was delayed by approximately five years because a garda involved was prosecuted in an unrelated matter.
- Keane was sentenced to ten years in 2000 for possession of €240,000 worth of cannabis.
130 statements extracted from the articles
- whatJohn Costello pleaded guilty to providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Christy Keane on 29 June 2015. (irishtimes.com)
- whatChristy Keane was shot a number of times as he parked his car on the grounds of the University of Limerick in June 2015. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKeane escaped via a nearby running track and survived despite being left in critical condition. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJohn Costello pleaded guilty to providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on 29 June 2015 (limerickleader.ie)
- whatKeane was shot a number of times as he parked his car on the grounds of the University of Limerick in June 2015 (limerickleader.ie)
- whatKeane escaped via the nearby running track and survived after being hospitalised in critical condition (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThirteen rounds were discharged into Keane's Nissan jeep by two gunmen. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatKeane was hit four times: three times to his upper arm and once to his wrist. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatOne bullet wound went through Keane's lower back and punctured a lung. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe two shooters departed the Ford Focus in a white Volvo estate car which was later burnt out at Drombanna. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA black BMW linked to the person who ordered the hit drove to Drombanna and collected the two shooters. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCostello left his home at 8.15am and went to his girlfriend's house to collect his Audi A4. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCostello admitted collecting two males at Ballynanty but was not in a position to name them. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatCostello pleaded guilty in March to providing transport to people allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatNoel Price, aged 44, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatPrice admitted assisting in making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatChristy Keane was shot a number of times, and he survived and was hospitalised in a critical condition. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatNoel Price helped the McCarthy-Dundon gang in the attempted murder of convicted drug dealer Christy Keane. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKeane was shot several times as he parked his car at the University of Limerick. (irishtimes.com, limerickleader.ie)
- whatKeane survived the shooting and was hospitalised in a critical condition. (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- whatNoel Price helped the McCarthy-Dundon crime gang during the attempted murder of Christy Keane. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatPrice went to Dublin with a senior member of the organised crime group and drove back to Limerick in convoy. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatLarry McCarthy pleaded guilty in court to a charge connected to the attempted murder of Christy Keane. (rte.ie)
- whatMcCarthy admitted his role in an attempt to kill a rival gang leader in Co Limerick eight years ago. (rte.ie)
- whatLarry McCarthy pleaded guilty to making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation used as a getaway vehicle in the attempted murder of Christy Keane. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatTwo gunmen wearing balaclavas fired 13 rounds from a red Ford Focus into Keane's Nissan pickup truck. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatKeane was treated for four gunshot wounds: three to the upper arm or wrist and one to the lower back that punctured a lung. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe Ford Focus was burned out and the gunmen transferred to a white Volvo Estate car which was also set on fire. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatMcCarthy assisted in making the white Volvo available to the gunmen and was involved in putting it in position the evening before the shooting. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatMcCarthy and another man travelled from Limerick to Dublin one week before the shooting where the second man picked up the Volvo and drove it to Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatKeane was treated for four gunshot wounds: three to the upper arm and wrist and one to the lower back that punctured a lung. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcCarthy assisted in making the white Volvo Estate available to the gunmen. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcCarthy and Price travelled from Limerick to Dublin one week before the shooting, where Price picked up the Volvo and drove it to Limerick. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcCarthy was involved in putting the Volvo in position the evening before the shooting. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe red Ford Focus was found burned out at Newtown in Annacotty, just outside Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe two shooters were abandoned by the BMW driver in a rural location just outside Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereKeane had driven his Nissan jeep to the University of Limerick arena car park at about 6.30am. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereKeane was shot as he parked his car on the grounds of the University of Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereKeane was shot on the grounds of the University of Limerick. (rte.ie)
- whereThe shooting occurred at the University of Limerick gym. (thejournal.ie)
- whereMcCarthy had a previous address at Tower Lodge, Old Court Road, Limerick City. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe shooting took place at 6.30am on 29 June 2015 at the University of Limerick Arena car park. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 29 June 2015. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe offence occurred on an unknown date between 27 and 29 June 2015. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe offence was alleged to have occurred between June 27th and June 29th, 2015. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offence was alleged to have occurred between June 27 and June 29, 2015. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe attempted murder took place between 27 and 29 June 2015. (rte.ie)
- whenMcCarthy pleaded guilty in October 2023. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe offence occurred between 27 and 29 June 2015. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenChristy Keane arrived at the University of Limerick gym at 6.30am on 29 June 2015. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe shooting took place on 29 June 2015 at 6.30am. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe offence derived from what was described as the Limerick feud. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponEight shots were fired from a Glock pistol and five from a Luger semi-automatic pistol. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponBoth the Luger and Glock pistols were located inside the burned-out Ford Focus. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponA Glock semi-automatic pistol was found in the Ford Focus and a Luger in the Volvo, both forensically linked to the shooting. (limerickleader.ie)
- weaponA Glock semi-automatic pistol was found in the Ford Focus. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponA Luger pistol was found in the Volvo and was forensically linked to the shooting of Keane. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationDetective Sergeant Padraig O'Dwyer served the Book of Evidence on Costello regarding the new charge (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationA handwritten list of phone numbers was found during the search of Costello's house. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationCostello received seven phone calls between 7.06am and 9.03am on the morning of the shooting. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationCostello's phone was operating in the vicinity of Ballynanty at the time of the shooting. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationCostello's phone was linked to one of the two shooters, and he was seen collecting two males at Ballynanty. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe charge was under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997, for providing transport to impede apprehension or prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe original Section 72 charge under the Criminal Justice Act 2006 was withdrawn and replaced with the Section 7(2) charge. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNoel Price, 44, of Kileely Road, Kileely, Limerick, is charged with assisting in making available a vehicle to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation to facilitate the attempted murder of Christy Keane between 27 and 29 June 2015. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeLarry McCarthy, 44, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick City, is charged with making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundons in the attempted murder of Christy Keane between 27 and 29 June 2015. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe charge was under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997 (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeCostello had originally been charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 with knowledge of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation and providing transport to facilitate the attempted murder (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeNoel Price, 44, is charged with having knowledge of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation and assisting in making available a vehicle to facilitate the attempted murder between 27 and 29 June 2015 (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeLarry McCarthy, 44, is charged with making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundons in the attempted murder of Keane between 27 and 29 June 2015 (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe offence comes under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (limerickleader.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargePrice pleaded guilty to assisting in making a vehicle available to the criminal organisation. (irishtimes.com)
- chargePrice pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting in making a vehicle available to the McCarthy Dundon criminal organisation. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe charge is making a vehicle available to a criminal organisation. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe offence is contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeThe offence is contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 with a maximum sentence of 15 years. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at the Special Criminal Court with Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding alongside Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to 30 March 2023 for sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Section 72 charge was withdrawn by the prosecution and replaced with the Section 7(2) charge (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe case was adjourned to 30 March for sentence (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe case only came before the court in July 2020 because a garda involved was prosecuted in a completely unrelated event involving an alleged corrupt transaction. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtTwo other defendants are currently before the court in relation to this incident. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe sentence was handed down at the Special Criminal Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtPrice pleaded guilty when the single charge on the indictment was put to him. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMr Justice Alex Owens adjourned the matter to 25 July and directed that Price be produced on that date. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe sentence was passed by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, sitting with Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge Alan Mitchell. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said Price knew all about the gang and the feud with the Keane-Collopy gang. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMcCarthy was remanded on bail with conditions to sign on three times a week at a garda station and to notify gardaí of travel. (rte.ie)
- courtMcCarthy is due to appear again at the Special Criminal Court in December. (rte.ie)
- courtMs Justice Caroline Biggs presided in the three-judge Special Criminal Court and adjourned the matter until 11 March for sentencing. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMcCarthy pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in October 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceCostello was given a prison sentence of four years and six months, backdated to when he first went into prison. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe remainder of the sentence was suspended for four years on condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceIf Costello is brought back before the court for any reason, he will serve the rest of his sentence. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceCostello was sentenced to four years and six months, backdated to when he went into prison. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe remainder of Costello's sentence was suspended for four years on condition of good behaviour and keeping the peace. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was set at ten years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA 25 per cent reduction was applied for his guilty plea and circumstances of his addictions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at ten years' imprisonment. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceA 25% reduction was applied for his guilty plea and the circumstances of his addictions, giving seven years and six months. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe court suspended the final year, taking into account that Price had been in prison since 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentencePrice was sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment with the final year suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceIn July 2005 McCarthy received an eleven-year sentence from a UK court for possession of a Mac 11 gun. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceMcCarthy was sentenced to six-and-a-half years imprisonment. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was 10 years, reduced by 20% to eight years, with the final 18 months suspended. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceNoel Price was jailed for six-and-a-half years in July 2023 for the same offence relating to the Ford Focus. (thejournal.ie)
- otherChristy Keane was sentenced to 10 years in jail in 2000 for possession of €240,000 worth of cannabis. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- otherPrice and McCarthy deny the charges (limerickleader.ie)
- otherA nurse who was out for a run nearby rendered medical assistance to Keane at the scene. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherCostello has 13 previous convictions, the most notable being a 12-year sentence in 2004 for a section 15a Misuse of Drugs Act offence involving amphetamine. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe Limerick feud dated back to 1993 and in the intervening period there had been 19 murders and 15 attempted murders. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe judge cited humanitarian circumstances involving a child and gave credit for Costello's early guilty plea. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherCostello was released from prison for humanitarian reasons. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherJohn Costello, aged 41, was a second defendant who had earlier pleaded guilty to providing transport to persons involved in the assault on Keane. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherPrice has 90 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPrice was already in prison for a 2019 offence, with an anticipated release date of August 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge described Price's criminal record as very poor, with repeated recidivism. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherJohn Costelloe and Noel Price have already been sentenced by the Special Criminal Court for their roles in the gun attack. (rte.ie)
- otherThe McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Collopy gangs have been involved in a feud dating back to 1993 when Patrick McCarthy was killed. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherChristy Keane was acquitted of Patrick McCarthy's murder but his brother Kieran Keane was later murdered, and five members of the Dundon-McCarthy gang were convicted in relation to that. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherMcCarthy has 14 previous convictions including for violent disorder and assault causing harm. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherChristy Keane was invited to give a victim impact statement but none was forthcoming due to his reluctance to involve himself in the proceedings. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherMcCarthy has not offended in nearly ten years and while out on bail in recent times has not posed a threat to anyone. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherSince moving to Donegal, McCarthy enjoys a close relationship with his wife and three children; his daughter is studying law, one son spent three years in the British Army, and the other works in the north west. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherA psychologist's report concluded that McCarthy does not pose a significant risk to the public and is unlikely to reoffend. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherMcCarthy has 14 previous convictions including violent disorder and assault causing harm. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThere had been 19 murders in the feud between the two gangs. (thejournal.ie)
- otherPrice had 90 previous convictions and previously received a 12-year sentence for arson in 2001. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMcCarthy left school at 11 years of age. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Mar2024Larry McCarthy jailed for 6.5 years for procuring getaway car for attempted murder in Limerick feud
Reports McCarthy's sentencing, adding details of the white Volvo Estate getaway car, the 13 rounds fired, Keane's four gunshot wounds, the weapons found in both vehicles, and McCarthy's personal circumstances in Donegal used in mitigation.
victim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keaneconvicted, Larry McCarthy, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry McCarthyconvicted, Noel Price, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Price - 26 Feb2024Man who provided getaway car for attempted murder of Limerick criminal has 'turned life around'
Pre-sentencing hearing details: defence submitted a psychologist's report on McCarthy's rehabilitation in Donegal, prosecution outlined the 1993-onward McCarthy-Dundon/Keane-Collopy feud and the mechanics of the 2015 shooting, and the court adjourned to 11 March 2024 for sentence.
victim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keaneaccused, Larry McCarthy, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry McCarthy - 4 Oct2023Man admits role in attempt to kill Limerick gang leader
Reports McCarthy's guilty plea, which the existing case records do not mention. States his age as 42, gives his address as Tower Lodge, Old Court Road, Limerick city, and says he was remanded on bail to the Special Criminal Court in December. Also says Keane survived and that John Costelloe and Noel Price were already sentenced.
convicted, Larry McCarthy, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry McCarthyvictim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keane - 27 Jul2023Limerick criminal jailed over his role in attempted murder of convicted drug dealer
Reports the sentencing of Noel Price (45): headline sentence of ten years reduced by 25% for his guilty plea, giving seven years and six months with the final year suspended. Adds the guilty plea, the offence dates, the judge's remarks on his knowledge of the gang and his poor criminal record, and that he had been in prison since 2020.
convicted, Noel Price, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Pricevictim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keane - 27 Jul2023Man who helped McCarthy-Dundon gang in attempted murder of Christy Keane jailed for 6½ years
Reports the Special Criminal Court sentence, the guilty plea, the headline sentence and the 25 per cent reduction, and the offence dates.
convicted, Noel Price, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Pricevictim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keane - 16 Jun2023Second man pleads guilty over shooting of Limerick criminal Christy Keane
Reports Noel Price's guilty plea at the Special Criminal Court, the adjournment to 25 July, and the earlier sentence of John Costello, the getaway driver, who was released from prison last month.
convicted, Noel Price, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Pricevictim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keaneconvicted, John Costello, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Costello - 19 May2023Suspended sentence for getaway driver following shooting of Limerick criminal Christy Keane
Reports the sentencing: a four-year-six-month prison sentence backdated to when Costello first went into prison, with the remainder suspended for four years. Costello pleaded guilty in March, and the judge cited humanitarian circumstances and his early guilty plea. Adds that Costello was a getaway driver who collected the two shooters at Ballynanty.
convicted, John Costello, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Costello - 31 Mar2023Limerick criminal 'fortunate' that nurse was close by to render assistance following gun attack
Sentencing hearing details: full account of the shooting (13 rounds, two pistols), the escape route (Ford Focus to Annacotty, Volvo to Drombanna, BMW to Ballynanty), the nurse who assisted Keane, Costello's phone evidence and admission of collecting two males at Ballynanty, the five-year delay caused by a garda's prosecution, and remand until 19 May 2023 for sentencing.
victim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keaneaccused, John Costello, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Costello - 8 Mar2023Man pleads guilty over shooting of Limerick gangland criminal Christy Keane
Reports John Costello's guilty plea to a reduced Section 7(2) charge at the Special Criminal Court, with the original Section 72 charge withdrawn. Co-defendants Noel Price and Larry McCarthy deny their charges. Case adjourned to 30 March 2023 for sentence.
victim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keaneaccused, John Costello, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Costelloaccused, Noel Price, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Priceaccused, Larry McCarthy, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry McCarthy - 8 Mar2023Man (41) pleads guilty to role in shooting of Limerick crime figure Christy Keane
Reports John Costello's guilty plea at the Special Criminal Court, the withdrawal of the Section 72 charge and replacement with a Section 7(2) charge, and the adjournment to 30 March 2023 for sentencing. Also details the charges against co-accused Noel Price and Larry McCarthy.
victim, Christy Keane, male, irish (judged from name)Christy Keaneaccused, John Costello, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Costelloaccused, Noel Price, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Noel Priceaccused, Larry McCarthy, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry McCarthy