Alleged gang boss charged for threat to kill sister’s father-in-law

A man alleged by gardaí to be the head of a criminal gang has been been charged with threatening to kill his sister’s father-in-law, in Limerick, last Tuesday.

Larry McCarthy, aged 37, of Towerlodge, Old Cork Rd, Limerick, was brought before a special sitting of Kilmallock District Court yesterday and charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Noel Moore, at his home in Donoghmore, Limerick, on July 28.

Mr Moore, a stall holder at the Limerick Milk Market, is the father of TJ Moore, who is married to Mr McCarthy’s sister, Lauren McCarthy.

In opposing bail, Detective Garda Niall Fitzgerald told the court: “Larry McCarthy is the head of the McCarthy Dundon organisation. He has known links to criminals around the country and to criminals on an international level.”

Det Fitzgerald said he believed Mr McCarthy “posed an immediate and viable threat” to Mr Moore. “He has ready access to firearms and can carry out the alleged threat he made,” he said. “Noel Moore is in fear of his life and he fully believes Larry McCarthy intends to carry out the alleged threat.”Det Fitzgerald alleged Larry McCarthy drove to Mr Moore’s home on Tuesday morning “in anger over TJ Moore’s treatment of Larry McCarthy’s father”.Larry McCarthy’s father - Larry snr - is a well-known Limerick Milk Market stall holder and is lifelong friends with Noel Moore.Det Fitzgerald said that Noel Moore stated that Larry McCarthy junior drive to his house “in a temper” and told him: “I’ll torment you the way TJ tormented my father.”

Mr Moore told gardaí the accused pointed at him and said: “I’m going to fucking shoot you,” and Mr Moore also told gardaí the accused told him“I’m going to get my buddies to burn your house to the ground.”

Det Fitzgerald said CCTV at Mr Moore’s home showed the accused entering and exiting Mr Moore’s home.

He also told the court the accused was arrested driving a black 2010 D registered 7 series BMW, which he said was captured on CCTV in the Donoghmore area on the morning in question.“Five phones were seized in the vehicle. A download of the phones discovered texts after the alleged incident. The texts referred to Noel Moore’s house and vehicles that were parked there,” Det Fitzgerald said.“This amounted to surveillance of Noel Moore’s house by Larry McCarthy and his associates,” he added.Det Fitzgerald agreed with solicitor Ted McCarthy that gardaí had not established who the owners of the phones were.

Det Fitzgerald told the court: “It’s my belief [Larry McCarthy] will commit further serious offences, up to and including, loss of life.”

Solicitor Ted McCarthy said Mr McCarthy visited Mr Moore on the morning in question to discuss a family matter involving his sister and Mr Moore’s son TJ. He said his client has “consistently denied” making any threat. “The nature and strength of the evidence is not strong. There is no independent corroboration of anything.”“It isn’t a matter of evidence, it is innuendo,” the solicitor added.

Judge Marian O’Leary remanded said she was opposing bail because Mr Moore had made a statement to gardaí that he was “terrified” Larry McCarthy would carry out the alleged threat.“I have to oppose bail in these circumstances.”She described the allegations involving the two related families as “very sad”.

Mr McCarthy in custody to appear before Limerick District Court on August 5.