‘Helpful information’ follows TV murder appeal

SUPERINTENDENT Frank O’Brien who is heading the Shane Geoghegan murder hunt said yesterday they had received “very helpful information” following Tuesday night’s RTÉ Crimecall appeal by the mother and fiancée of the dead rugby captain.

He said: “We got very positive feedback with calls coming in right up to midnight. We received very helpful information that will certainly move the investigation along.

“We would like to appeal to people to come forward and we have an incident room number at Roxboro Road station — 061 214349. If people have any concerns about coming forward, I want to reiterate we will do everything to ensure nobody is put at risk and we have means of supporting people.”

RTÉ confirmed the show received an exceptional amount of calls which was significantly up on previous months, while some 423,000 people watched the programme, up 6% on the slot average.

Shane Geoghegan, aged 28, was shot dead at about 1.30am on November 9 as he walked near his home at Clonmore, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle after watching the Ireland Canada rugby international on TV at a friend’s house in Kilteragh.

Gardaí suspect he was mistaken for a known drugs figure who also lives at Clonmore in a house bought by his partner with the assistance of the affordable housing scheme operated by Limerick County Council.

Having been approved by the council, the purchaser got a €51,000 discount from the purchase price.

On taking possession of the house, the criminal moved in with her.

He was shot at in a previous attack carried out at Clonmore in August 2006. Up to 20 bullets were directed at him in that shooting.

He has not moved out of the estate since the murder and has been seen driving in and out of the estate in recent days.

Gardaí have seized more than 200 firearms from Limerick’s feuding gangs since 2005 with annual gun seizures rising more than threefold over the past four years.

Meanwhile, gardaí are investigating a violent robbery yesterday morning at Castleconnell post office in Co Limerick.

Three masked men armed with hatchets and hammers entered the post office shortly after 9am and smashed through a security screen.

After terrorising the female staff member they grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash before they ran from the building.

A fourth man was waiting in getaway car. It was a silver Toyota Celica fitted with Northern number plates.

The staff member was said to be badly shaken.