Gardaí foil contract killing of Limerick gang member

GARDAÍ in Limerick have foiled a contract killing in which a member of the McCarthy-Dundon gang was to be shot dead.

A known gunman was stopped in the city in recent days, gardaí confirmed last night. His movements were tracked after he arrived back in this country from Britain. He has since left the city and is understood to have returned to Britain.

The suspected hitman shot Kilrush businessman Anthony Kelly at his home on August 21, 2003.

Anthony Kelly was recently acquitted of involvement in the murder of Limerick nightclub security man Brian Fitzgerald.

Mr Kelly was shot as he sat in the kitchen of his home, Cragg House, by the man arrested in recent days. He was hit by three bullets and brought to hospital.

Mr Kelly was saved by strong double glazing in the kitchen window that diminished the velocity of the bullets that hit him.

Mr Kelly was targeted as he was known to have contacts with people who are known to the McCarthy-Dundon gang.

Prior to the shooting in Kilrush, the gunman arrested in Limerick in recent days was shot and received serious wounds when targeted by the McCarthy-Dundon gang. Gardaí are satisfied that he had returned to Limerick on a killing mission when they intercepted him.

Large contracts have been taken out by rival gang members.

McCarthy-Dundon gang member James Cronin, who was found shot dead in a shallow grave on April 7 last, was the son of Anthony Kelly’s former partner, Marie Cronin.

James Cronin was suspected of having been involved in the murder of Mark Moloney on April 5 as he walked near his home in Garryowen.

Members of the McCarthy-Dundon gang murdered their own gang member, Cronin, as the gardaí were moving in on him and they feared he would “grass” on his accomplices.