Armed garda unit bids to restore calm amid fears of reprisals

THE heavily armed garda emergency response unit is trying to restore calm in Limerick following a brutal shooting.

About 30 armed officers were drafted in as fears of reprisal shootings grow after the killing of Kieran Keane.

Keane, 36, who was one of the city’s top criminals, was shot in the head in an execution-style killing at Drombanna, four miles outside the city, on Wednesday night. Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly last night said he fears reprisals because there are ruthless, hate-filled criminals in the city.

“The reason we have the people on the street is because we want a safe environment,” he said.

Keane’s hands were tied behind his back when he was found dead on the roadway about a mile from the Four Elms pub.

Owen Treacy, 30, Keane’s nephew, received seven stab wounds to the upper body before escaping to a nearby house, about 90 metres away, to raise the alarm. Mr Treacy is in a serious but comfortable condition at the Mid Western Regional hospital and his injuries are not life-threatening.

Mr Treacy and Mr Keane were last seen driving through St Mary’s Park on the Northside of the city at around 7pm.

Their car was later found parked in the Garryowen area. The car is being examined by forensic experts at Roxboro Road Garda station.

Supt Kelly said both the Kieran Keane investigation and the Ryan abduction probe may link up at some stage. Kieran Keane had been questioned by gardaí about the disappearance of the Ryan brothers last week.

Kieran Keane lived in Garryowen with his wife Sophie and two teenage children. He was one of the main suspects in the Eddie Ryan murder case.

Mr Ryan, the father of kidnapped brothers Kieran and Eddie was gunned down in the Moose Bar, in November 2000.

Kieran Keane previously faced charges of head butting Mary Ryan, wife of Eddie, outside the District Court.

Mr Treacy, whose family runs a bakery business, is married with children and lives on St Munchin’s Street.

Mr Keane ran a coal business from St Mary’s Park but was viewed by gardaí as one of the most violent and feared criminals in the city.

He had a chip shop business but had taken a leading criminal role since his brother Christy was jailed for 10 years on drugs charges last May.