Man charged with murder of nightclub doorman

A 49-year-old man was remanded in custody yesterday charged with the murder of a nightclub security man.

Anthony Kelly, from Co Clare, appeared before Limerick District Court charged with the murder of Brian Fitzgerald on November 29, 2002 at Brookhaven Walk, Corbally, Limerick.

Kelly, with an address at Cragg House, Kilrush was remanded to appear at the same court on October 24.

Detective Garda Paul Ryan gave evidence of arresting Kelly at Mill Road, Ennis at 9.45pm on Monday night and charging him with murder at 10.50pm.

Kelly, he said, made no reply to the charge.

Solicitor for the accused Eugene O’Kelly applied for bail and said there was no question of his client being a flight risk, but Judge Tom O’Donnell said bail on the charge had to be brought to the High Court.

Mr O’Kelly submitted that the court did have jurisdiction regarding bail.

He said the accused had travelled out of the country on several occasions since he was “spectacularly arrested” some months ago in connection with the same matter and released.

He said the accused had given his passport to the gardaí and it had been returned to him.

“Every step of this case has been reported in lurid fashion by the media,” Mr O’Kelly said.

He said the accused was aware that he was going to face the charge which has been brought against him, but had returned to this country from abroad and there was no risk of him being a flight risk.

Judge O’Donnell said he did not want to cut Mr O’Kelly short, but bail on a murder charge was a matter for the High Court and he remanded Kelly in custody.

There was tight security inside and around the courthouse for the hearing.

Last November, James Martin Cahill, a 30-year-old Englishman, was jailed for life when he pleaded guilty to the murder of the 34-year-old Mr Fitzgerald, who was shot dead outside his home.