Getaway car driver jailed for manslaughter

The driver of the getaway car in the shooting murder of Eddie Ryan Snr in a Limerick hotel was sentenced to 15 years' jail for manslaughter today.

Mr Justice Henry Abbott said the "heinous" and "savage" killing of Mr Ryan in 2000 was a "quantum leap" in the Limerick feud and the growing lawlessness since then had to be considered by him.

In sentencing Paul Coffey (aged 26), the judge said the feud had now taken on "vile and outrageous proportions" with "subversive groups acting with arms".

But he suspended seven years of the prison term for Coffey - who was described in court as a "fall guy" and "not the brightest in the world" - noting evidence suggested he was not the main player in the slaying and was "easily led".

Mr Ryan (aged 41) was gunned down in a hail of bullets fired by two men who burst into the Moose Bar in Limerick where he was drinking on November 12, 2000, following the funeral of his brother-in-law.

His death, from 11 gunshot wounds, followed a series of increasingly serious gang crimes that began with a schoolyard fight between two girls from each of the feuding families.

The court head yesterday that Coffey, whose last address was at Craeval Park, Moyross, agreed to drive a stolen car for the two men and set fire to it after helping the gunmen escape following the shooting.

But Coffey did not steal the car or know what was planned when he agreed to drive, although he realised they were going to shoot someone when they donned balaclavas in the car, the court heard.

Coffey was originally tried for Mr Ryan's murder and pleaded not guilty. But the trial ended in July when he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the plea was accepted by the prosecution.

Coffey, who has prior convictions for weapons and violence, apologised to the Ryan family for his part in the killing. Mr Ryan's widow, Mary Ryan, declined to comment after the sentence today.

Mr Justice Abbott recommended that prison authorities give Coffey psychiatric and psychological help to deal with his depression and drug abuse, as well as claims from him that he had been sexually abused.