Garryowen call for 'end to criminality' after Shane Geoghegan funeral

Garryowen rugby club have called for an end to the criminal activity that led to the shooting dead of club member Shane Geoghegan in Limerick over the weekend.

As thousands of people attended Mr Geoghegan's funeral Limerick, the club issued a statement saying: "We join with the people of Limerick and everywhere else in calling for an end to the criminality that has caused Shane’s death, and in particular we would like to offer our fullest support and thanks to the Gardaí, in their efforts to achieve that."

The club spoke of the "inexplicable loss of our dear, beloved friend Shane Geoghegan, who was so cruelly taken from us last Saturday night", saying it had left them "deeply shocked and traumatised".

"The taking of any human life is wrong, and we utterly condemn the murder of such of a genial, loyal and fundamentally decent person, whose commitment to and passion for Garryowen was his badge of honour. He was so proud of his club and his club are so proud that we can say that he was, and will always be, one of our own.

The club said that they instilled into their players "a sense of pride in our jersey, competitiveness, honesty of effort and respect for our opponents".

"Shane epitomised all of these beliefs that we hold, and he lived them on and off the pitch. We can think of no better role model for the hundreds of children and young men that wear our jersey with such pride, every weekend."

"The white five-pointed star on a Garryowen jersey represents the five city parishes of St Mary’s, St John’s, St Munchin’s, St Michael’s and St Patrick’s. We are proud any time we have the honour of representing our beloved Limerick City and that we have members and players from every part of the City.

They thanked everyone who had sent messages of sympathy and support, which included "rugby clubs in and outside Ireland, from other clubs across all sporting codes and from individual members of the public".

"We also share the grief and pain of Mary, Tom, Anthony, Jenna and all of his extended family. Garryowen will always be a place and a group of people that you can come to.

"Finally, Garryowen Football Club will retire the number three jersey across all teams in the club for the remainder of the season. From here on, we will be strengthened in the knowledge that every Garryowen team that takes the pitch will have Shane as our sixteenth man, there beside us."