Gardaí appeal for Limerick murder leads

LIMERICK gardaí yesterday made a renewed appeal for help with an unsolved murder as it was revealed the murder detection rate in Limerick is above 90%.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly, head of the Limerick Garda division, said that 44 people died violently in Limerick from the beginning of 1997 up to the end of last month.

“Forty of those have been solved which is a detection rate of about 91%, which is incredible,” said Chief Supt Kelly.

Limerick gardaí are again asking for help with their investigation into the unsolved murder of Sean Poland, 39, who was shot dead on New Year’s Eve night, December 31, 2002, after a gang broke into his home at Blackwater, Ardnacrusha, on the outskirts of the city.

To date 16 men and nine women have been questioned in connection with the murder.

Mr Poland’s partner, Joanne Lyons, 42, was tied up by the gang. She raised the alarm after managing to break free.

Although the raiders took about 1,000 from the house, gardaí say they are not yet sure about the motive.

Detective Garda Arthur Ryan, a member of the investigating team, yesterday said the murder was not linked to the ongoing city feud.

He said the suspects are from both Limerick city and county.

Det Garda Ryan said: “Despite an extensive investigation no one has been made amenable for their heinous crime to date. We believe that there are people out there who can give us vital information and we would appeal to them to contact us on 061 212400 or on the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.”

Mr Poland and Ms Lyons had been socialising earlier on New Year’s Eve in Limerick and travelled home in Mr Poland’s white van, registration 00 CE 905.

Det Garda Ryan said: “They arrived home at 23.20pm and within 15 minutes the front door bell rang. Sean Poland answered the door. A number of individuals forced their way into the house and during the following few minutes Sean Poland was shot and fatally wounded.”

Det Garda Ryan described Mr Poland as a “quiet, law-abiding man” and there was no indication that he knew his attackers.

There were four fatal attacks in Limerick this year and garda files on all have been completed in each of these.