Man who laughed after trial collapsed admits to gun charge

A LIMERICK man who gained notoriety five years ago when he laughed leaving the Four Courts in Dublin, yesterday admitted a charge of having a powerful Glock semiautomatic pistol and 13 rounds of ammunition.

Liam Keane, 24, of Singland Gardens, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to charges of possessing the gun and the ammunition at Athlunkard Road, Corbally, on May 4 last for an unlawful purpose.

He also pleaded guilty to using a car without the permission of the owner at the same location.

His case was adjourned to October 31 and he was remanded in custody.

Another man, who faces the same charges, is due before Limerick Circuit Court next week.

Keane was acquitted of the murder of shop worker, Eric Leamy, 19, after a trial collapsed at the Central Criminal Court in November 2003.

Mr Leamy died from stab wounds in 2001.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Paul Carney, said after the trial collapsed: “The likes of what has happened in this case has never, I can assure you, been encountered in this court before.”

Pictures of Keane giving a two fingers sign outside the court made front-page news.