Second man pleads guilty over early-morning shooting of gangland criminal

ONE of three men charged with involvement in the shooting convicted drug dealer Christy Keane by the McCarthy-Dundon crime gang eight years ago has admitted facilitating the attempted murder by helping to make a car available to the gang.  

Noel Price, aged 44, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court that, "having knowledge of the existence of the McCarthy Dundon criminal organisation, he assisted in making available a vehicle to that criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the commission by the aforesaid organisation of the attempted murder of Mr Christy Keane or being reckless as to same."   

The offence occurred on an unknown date between June 27 and June 29, 2015, both dates inclusive.  

Price, who has an address at Kileely Road, Kileely, Limerick city appeared before the non-jury court this Monday where he replied “guilty” when the single charge on the indictment was put to him by the registrar.  

The offence comes under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.  

Christy Keane was shot a number of times as he parked his car on the grounds of the University of Limerick where he went for an early-morning gym session in June 2015.

He survived the shooting after making his escape via a nearby running track and was subsequently hospitalised in a critical condition.  

The convicted drug dealer was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in 2000 for possession of €240,000 worth of cannabis - at St Mary's Park in Limerick.  

After Noel Price entered his guilty please, Anne Marie Lawlor SC, for the State, said the injured party is someone who is “not expected” to furnish a Victim Impact Statement but said he could be invited to make a statement to the court.  

Mr Justice Alex Owens adjourned the matter to July 25 directed that Price be produced on that date.  

A second defendant in the case, John Costello, aged 41, of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, Limerick city, was released from prison last month after he had earlier pleaded guilty to providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on 29 June, 2015.  

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the three-judge court, said there was a "very real humanitarian situation" in Costello's case and he would therefore give him an opportunity to turn away from crime.

In that case, he imposed a sentence of four years and six months, backdated to when Costello went into prison. The judge suspended whatever portion of the sentence remains to be served for four years on condition he be of good behaviour and keep the peace.