Five plead not guilty to Keane murder

Five men charged with the murder of Limerick crime boss Kieran Keane have pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court.

The biggest trial ever to be heard in Limerick opened amid tight security.

Everyone entering the city’s newly refurbished Circuit Courthouse was searched for weapons and frisked by an electronic scanner as they arrived.

Metal crowd control barriers were erected outside and armed garda marksmen stood on the roof of the court building.

The garda helicopter hovered overhead from early morning and the five accused men were brought to court under armed escort.

All of the accused pleaded not guilty to the murder of Kieran Keane at Drombana Co Limerick on January 29 last and to the attempted murder of his nephew Owen Treacy on the same date.

They also pleaded not guilty to falsley imprisoning the two men in Limerick city on the same date.

The five accused are James McCarthy, (aged 24), of Delmege Park, Moyross, David Stanners (aged 31) of Pineview Gardens Moyross, Christopher ‘Smokey’ Costelloe (aged 20), of Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty, Anthony ‘Noddy’ McCarthy, (aged 21), of The Fairgreen and Dessie Dundon (aged 20), of Hyde Road, all in Limerick.

The prosecution’s chief witness, Owen Treacy was brought to court yesterday flanked by five armed detectives. Mr Treacy sat alone in the upstairs viewing gallery of the courtroom guarded by armed detectives during yesterday’s proceedings.

Kieran Keane’s widow Sophie was among those gathered in the public gallery. It took just over two hours for a jury of three women and five men to be sworn in for the trial. A total of 170 jurors were due at court yesterday but just under 100 were present.

It is understood a number of doctor’s certs were handed into the court by jurors who did not attend.

Mr Justice Paul Carney - who was due to preside over the trial was unable to attend due to illness and Mr Justice Paul Butler arrived in his place.

It is understood Mr Carney arrived in Limerick on Monday night but was taken ill and was yesterday under medical supervision at Limerick Regional Hospital.

The trial - which is expected to continue until Christmas - is due to commence tomorrow with opening statements from the prosecution.