'One of Limerick's most violent criminals' jailed for 10 years

A man described as "one of most violent criminals in Limerick city" was jailed for 10 years today, for threatening to kill a 19-year-old barman who was was shot in a pub in Limerick city last year.

Wayne Dundon, Lenihan Avenue Prospect, received a further three-year concurrent jail sentence for violently assaulting two gardaí while he was being questioned about the shooting at Brannigan's pub in Limerick city last December.

The 27-year-old, who has a list of previous convictions both here and in the UK, is the third in his family now behind bars.

His brother Dessie Dundon is serving a life sentence for the murder of Limerick crime boss Kieran Keane, and for the attempted murder of Owen Treacy in Limerick in January 29, 2003.

Another brother, John Dundon, is serving a four-year sentence for threatening a witness at Kieran Keane murder trial.

Before imposing the 10-year sentence at Limerick Circuit today, Judge Carroll Moran said he had to take into account evidence from a senior Limerick detective who described Wayne Dundon as "one of the most violent criminals he had ever come across in Limerick city".

Judge Moran added that he had also taken into account evidence that Ryan Lee, the 19-year-old barman who was threatened by Wayne Dundon, still believed the threat made against him "continued to exist".

Mr Lee was shot twice half an hour after he was threatened by Wayne Dundon outside his uncle's pub in Limerick city on December 19 last.

The court heard that Wayne Dundon made the shape of a gun with his hand and pointing it to Mr Lee's head said "f**k you, you're dead".

Dundon made the threat after Mr Lee refused to let his 14-year-old sister Annabel Dundon into Brannigan's pub.

Half an hour after the threat was made, a man wearing a helmet walked into the pub and shot Mr Lee twice, hitting once in the left knee and once in his right hip.

No one has ever been charged with the shooting, but Judge Carroll Moran said yesterday that it would be "to disregard common sense" to say that the shooting had nothing to do with the threat.

"The shooting was indicative of the context in with the threat was made. It was indicative of the significance attched to the threat and the manner in which it was to be interpreted by the victim," said Judge Moran.

The court also heard that Mr Lee and his family are still under garda protection since the incident and that Ryan Lee is still undergoing medical treatment for his injuries suffered in the shooting.

The court also heard that a threatening letter was sent to Mr Lee's uncle Steve Collins - the proprietor of Brannigan's pub - the night the jury was sworn in for Wayne Dundon's trial.

The author of the letter threatened to attack Mr Collins's staff and his business and also warned him "to look at all the other people that's dead".

During yesterday's sentencing Judge Moran also described the video tape shown in court of Wayne Dundon assaulting two gardaí while in custody as "really dreadful".

Judge Moran heard evidence that one of the gardaí who was punched repeatedly by Mr Dundon has been unable to return to work and is still receiving counselling nearly five months since the attack.

The judge said there was "very little" to be said in Mr Dundon's favour except that he had pleaded guilty to the assualt charge and had apologised to the gardaí in question.

Judge Moran imposed a three-year sentence on the two assault charges and ordered that they run concurrent with the 10-year sentence.