Murder victim’s brother held on remand

THE brother of the man murdered in Limerick early yesterday was remanded in custody at a special sitting of Limerick District Court yesterday afternoon on a charge alleging that he threatened to kill a woman.

Paul Crawford, with an address in O’Malley Park, Limerick, was refused bail after the court was told by a detective that Mr Crawford was a leading member of the McCarthy-Dundon gang.

The alleged incident happened just hours after his brother Noel died in a shooting incident in O’Malley Park.

Detective Garda David Burke said he arrested Paul Crawford after threats were made to a woman shortly after the murder.

Detective Garda Bourke said he believed Paul Crawford, and not his brother, Noel, was the intended victim of yesterday’s shooting.

He said there had been two earlier attempts on Paul Crawford’s life and he claimed that if Crawford got bail he would try to exact revenge on those who he believed killed his brother.

Detective Garda Bourke claimed Crawford maintained he made the threat on the spur of the moment.

However, he claimed that the woman was terrified and was fearful for her safety.

Detective Garda Bourke agreed with Ted McCarthy, solicitor, that the accused would not be able to attend the funeral of his brother if he was denied bail.

Mr McCarthy told the court his client had seen his brother die in his arms hours earlier.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said there was a serious risk of further crime being committed if the accused got bail. He regretted having to deny bail to Crawford as there will be a funeral over the next period of time.

However, he said he had responsibilities to consider and remanded the accused in custody until tomorrow’s sitting of the same court. Crawford broke down in tears when refused bail.