International hitman stayed in Limerick hotel while plotting murders 

Gardaí have identified the hotel where Axel Liebsch Morales, 33, and an accomplice stayed

Gardaí have recovered CCTV footage of the two men arriving at the Limerick hotel and moving to and from the building. Stock picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

A Limerick hotel has been identified as the location where a notorious international hitman and an accomplice stayed while preparing to carry out a contract murder.

The hitman and his driver, who had travelled from Sweden to carry out a murder in Co Limerick, had booked into the hotel three days before the planned attack.

The hit failed after the car used by the two men was involved in a multiple vehicle crash in which the gunman, named as Axel Liebsch Morales, 33, died.

The hit team had lost their way late at night and engaged a sudden u-turn which caused a pile-up at a location between Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale.

The body of the gunman was found at the scene, but his accomplice fled and was helped escape by people connected to the family who had hired them.

The planned attack had been orchestrated by a family in West Limerick in revenge for a violent incident in the past three years.

Gardaí identify hotel where hitman stayed 

Gardaí have now confirmed that a hotel in the Limerick area was used by Morales after he arrived in Ireland on June 5. The attack was planned for June 8.

CCTV caught the two men arriving at the hotel and moving to and from the building.

They posed as tourists on a visit to Ireland.

Publicity about the accident prompted the hotel to contact gardaí, who moved in and carried out a full forensic examination of the room.

CCTV has also tracked them driving near the home of their intended target.

Dead man armed and wearing a balaclava 

On arrival at the fatal road accident, gardaí were shocked to find the dead man wearing a balaclava mask and carrying a handgun with two clips of ammunition.

A mobile phone was also left in the car, which pinpointed various locations.

Morales was originally from South America but moved to Sweden years ago.

Intelligence gathered by gardaí quickly exposed that a murderous operation had been put in place for an attack on a house in Rathkeale and that the dead man was central to this.

Gardaí have harvested further CCTV showing the movements of the car, with foreign number plates, moving through various locations in Limerick. 

Interpol confirmed Morales was wanted in Sweden in connection with two murders.