Significant breakthrough expected in Geoghegan murder case

SPECULATION intensified in Limerick last night that a major breakthrough has been made in the Shane Geoghegan murder investigation.

Vital new evidence, solid enough to bring charges, has been obtained by gardaí, according to reliable sources. The McCarthy-Dundon gang are the main suspects and mistook the well-known rugby player for a drugs importer linked to the Keane-Collopy gang.

Fifteen people — eight women and seven men — were still in custody having been arrested in a huge dawn swoop last Tuesday.

Periods of detention have been extended by Limerick District Court.

Speculation on a breakthrough centres on one of those arrested, a well-known Dublin criminal who moved to Limerick last year. He left Limerick immediately after the murder of Shane Geoghegan and returned recently. He comes from a Dublin inner-city criminal family, one of whom was shot dead in Spain last year. In his 20s, he joined the McCarthy-Dundon gang when he first came to Limerick.

There is a likelihood that a special sitting of Limerick District Court may be held either today or Sunday to hear of further applications from gardaí.

During one special court hearing on Wednesday night, Garda Chief Superintendent Gerry Mahon said new evidence had been gathered and the result of forensic tests of this evidence would be known before the weekend.

Shane Geoghegan, 28, was shot dead on November 9 last as he walked near his home at Kilteragh, Dooradoyle. He was returning from a nearby friend’s house where he had watched a rugby international game.

Gardaí are satisfied he was mistaken for a known drugs importer who had moved into Kilteragh with his girlfriend and bought a house under the affordable housing scheme, having been approved for the scheme by Limerick County Council. The drugs importer and his girlfriend regularly travel to Spain where he owns a villa. The McCarthy-Dundon gang previously targeted the drugs importer in a gun attack in Kilteragh, when up to 20 shots were fired.

Shane Geoghegan was a rugby captain in Garryowen rugby club and his murder sparked national outrage.

Huge garda resources have been put into the murder hunt, with more than 120 detectives working full-time on the case.

Those arrested on Tuesday are being held in Garda stations in Limerick city, County Limerick, Clare and Tipperary.