Plea for no retaliation for biker’s murder

Mid-West Correspondent

More than 200 bikers formed a poignant funeral cavalcade yesterday for slain motorcycle enthusiast, Andrew O’Donoghue, who died in a gun attack in Co Limerick last Saturday.

Some travelled from motorcycle clubs in the UK for the ceremony in Murroe.

Mr O’Donoghue, aged 51, received fatal shotgun injuries as he stood near the entrance to the local Road Tramps motor cycle club at Mountfune, near Murroe.

Gardaí suspect the attack resulted from a row involving former members of the Road Tramps club. Four men were still being held last night as part of the investigation.

Fr Tom Ryan, addressing mourners at the requiem Mass, appealed for no retaliation: “This is a message that must go out loud and clear at this time. Unless this message is heard and acted on, dreadful things will continue to happen.”

Fr Ryan said the shooting had sent shockwaves through the community.

On hearing the news last Saturday, his first reaction was that something like this could not happen in a quiet, peaceful place like Murroe.

He said: “When this happens on your own doorstep, one sees the heartbreak, the grief, the almost despair it brings to a family, friends and the local community. The sad thing about life today is that we have become accustomed to this kind of bad news and it doesn’t seem to bother us anymore, until it happens in our own place.

“Would that we could say that what has happened here, will never happen again. Unfortunately it is almost an everyday occurrence now and this is a very frightening, disturbing trend in our country.”

Fr Ryan said we all must move away from the old regime of an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.

“To get away from seeking revenge, getting even; to get away from hatred; to be able to forgive; to show patience and tolerance,” he said.

Fr Ryan recalled last Christmas visiting Andrew, his partner Catherine and their daughter Ava and seeing Andrew’s new bike, along with his other machines.

“He loved his bikes, but the loves of his life were Catherine and Ava,” Fr Ryan said.

Fr Ryan said when he told Andrew that he installed a new stove in his house, he arrived down the following evening with bags of timber blocks.

This, he said showed the friendship and kindness Andrew gave to others.

As the investigation continues, gardaí have sent a shotgun found in Murroe for forensic examination.

CCTV from cameras at the motorcycle club in Mountfune have given vital information and gardaí expect charges will be brought in the coming days.