Killing of biker recorded on CCTV

Gardaí have said the murder of a Limerick biker was recorded on security cameras, and the killing is linked to a “bitter feud” between rival motorcycle gangs.

During a bail hearing at Limerick District Court, Detective Garda Fergal Hanrahan, Henry Street garda station, said Andrew ‘Odd’ O’Donoghue’s murder was “captured on CCTV”.

Mr O’Donoghue, a father of one, and a member of the Road Tramps Motorcycle Club, died on June 20 after he was shot outside the club, near the village of Murroe.

Detective Hanrahan alleged that Robert Cusack — who is charged with impeding the garda investigation into the murder — telephoned his stepfather Alan McNamara to bring a sawn-off shotgun to the Road Tramps clubhouse as part of a “revenge” attack, after an incident the previous evening in Doon, Co Limerick, involving Mr McNamara and rival bikers from the Road Tramps.

Alan McNamara, aged 48, from Mountfune, Murroe, is charged with Mr O’Donoghue’s murder. The garda told the court that Mr Cusack, aged 26, with an address at Abington, Murroe, and his stepfather, are both “members of the Caballero Motorcycle Club, based in Clonmel, Co Tipperary”.

“There is an ongoing bitter feud between both motorcycle clubs,” Det Hanrahan alleged. “The actual murder was captured on CCTV and [Robert Cusack] is clearly seen opening the back of a car and taking the murder weapon from his stepfather before leaving with the murder weapon.”

Det Hanrahan further alleged that, after the victim was shot dead that Mr Cusack “took possession of the murder weapon”, “forensically cleaned it”, and “buried it” at his home.

The court heard gardaí recovered the murder weapon and two mobile phones. Det Hanrahan alleged Mr Cusack, and two others not before the court, came across a rival biker on the day of the murder, and a car chase ensued in the direction of the Road Tramps clubhouse.

“[Mr Cusack] rang Alan McNamara and told him to come up and block the road, and to bring with him a shotgun,” said Det Hanrahan. “It’s also alleged [Mr Cusack] was aware his stepfather was in possession of an illegally held sawn-off shotgun. Prior to [Mr Cusack’s] arrival, Mr McNamara was standing on the road holding the shotgun. Andrew O’Donoghue was shot and subsequently died from his injuries.”

Outlining the State’s objection to bail, Det Hanrahan added: “Gardaí have grave concerns there will be more violence between both motorcycle groups to avenge the death of Andrew O’Donoghue.”

Despite the garda objections, Judge Marian O’Leary remanded Mr Cusack with consent to bail on strict conditions. She ordered him to pay an independent surety of €10,000, of which €5,000 cash is to be lodged with the court and the remaining €5,000 to be frozen.

She banned Mr Cusack from having contact with all known motorcycle clubs, obey a curfew, to be available to gardaí by telephone, reside at an address in Bruff, not to interfere with any witnesses in the case, and to sign on twice daily at Bruff garda station.

Mr Cusack was remanded to appear before Limerick District Court on July 21.