Drug dealer suspected of Moran murder

A WELL-KNOWN Limerick drug dealer is suspected of murdering Thomas Moran moments after he attacked the criminal’s home in Southill after being refused a ‘fix’.

Moran, aged 26, who was into petty crime to feed his heroin habit went to his supplier’s house on Sunday night for heroin.

However he had no money and owed money to the drug pusher.

When he was refused heroin he began an attack on the drug pusher’s house.

One source said the drug pusher emerged moments later and shot him dead.

There are unconfirmed reports that the two men were seen drinking in a city pub on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Moran’s body was found at around 1am on Monday on open ground adjacent to Ashe Avenue, John Carew Park.

A post mortem found that he had received a bullet to the head. He lived in nearby O’Malley Park. Mr Moran’s funeral takes place today.

A man arrested on Tuesday was still being held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Roxboro Road garda station.

His period of detention was extended by a further 24 hours yesterday.

A second area near to where the body was found was cordoned off by gardaí yesterday after some items were found.

Supt Frank O’Brien, who is heading the murder hunt, said: “A man is still in custody. We have carried out extensive searches and in the course of these a number of items have been found which have been sent for forensic examination. For operational reasons we cannot identify anything that has been recovered.”

Meanwhile, the officer heading the Liam O’Donovan inquiry in Croom said yesterday he was hopeful of a successful outcome to the investigation.

Supt Joe Roe said they were receiving great local assistance and the investigation was going very well.

Mr O’Donovan, who was a bachelor, was attacked in his home at St Sennan’s Terrace during the early hours of November 5.

Mr O’Donovan, aged 59, was in bed when at least one intruder got in by a back window. He managed to get out onto the main street after being stabbed in the chest and collapsed and died. His body was found the following day by a neighbour going to work.

A knife believed to be the murder weapon was found discarded in a wheelie bin near the centre of the village during follow-up garda searches.