Man cleared of involvement in gangland murder

A 46-year-old electrician has been found not guilty of withholding information about the murder of a victim of a bloody Limerick feud.

John O'Donnell, Colmcille Street, St Mary's Park, Limerick, had denied failing to disclose information about a motorbike, which gardaí suspected was used in the gangland shooting of John Ryan on July 7, 2003.

The unanimous not guilty verdict was returned by a jury today after two hours of deliberations at Limerick Circuit Court following a three-day trial.

During the trial, evidence was heard that John Ryan was shot up to four times as he helped to lay a garden patio at Canon Breen Park, Thomondgate.

He was shot dead in broad daylight by one of two men wearing motorcycle helmets who made their getaway on a motorbike.

The State’s case was based on suspicions that the defendant’s motorbike was the getaway vehicle used in the murder of John Ryan.

When Mr O’Donnell was first interviewed by gardaí hours after the shooting he had told detectives that his motorbike had been stolen but he didn’t report the theft.

He later admitted that, he had in fact, sold the motorbike to a neighbour for €350 cash the day before the fatal shooting.

The defendant later identified a motorbike found burnt out at the back of Keane’s Coalyard in St. Mary’s Park as the one he had sold to his neighbour.

During the trial, gardaí conceded that Mr O’Donnell was not in any way connected to the murder of John Ryan.

Defence Counsel, Mr David Goldberg (SC) said his client was an unfortunate man, who by his own stupidity, had been caught up in a criminal offence.

He had a serious drink problem and the only reason that he didn’t tell gardaí that he had sold the motorbike was because he didn’t want his wife to know that he had sold it for cash, the trial heard.

Judge Carroll Moran thanked the jury of eight women and four men following today's verdict and he excused them from jury service for three years.