AN EIGHT- year prison sentence has been handed down to each of two brothers of deceased Limerick criminal, Phillip Collopy. Kieran Collopy, aged 35, and his 21-year-old brother Damien, were sentenced to eight years, with the last three suspended, after they threatened to kill long time friend and associate William Moran, who they believed had money belonging to their late brother following the sale of horses.
The brothers, with addresses at St Ita’s Street, St Mary’s Park, and in custody since April 16 of last year, made threats to William Moran at his home in St Mary’s Park on April 14 last.
Kieran Collopy arrived to the home of William Moran and confronted him over the outstanding money he believed belonged to his dead brother.
Words were exchanged and Kieran Collopy struck Moran in the jaw, saying that he hoped Moran was “prepared to die”.
A short time later, Kieran Collopy returned to the house with his brother Damien, who also made threats to William Moran, who was now barricaded behind his front door taking refuge.
The court heard that the brothers believed that Moran had money owing to the family of the late Philip Collopy.
The 29-year-old died after he accidentally shot himself in the head with a Glock pistol in March 2009. The brothers claimed that horses were sold and that William Moran had the proceeds of the sale.
William Moran, who has been afforded 24-hour garda protection, still denies the claim.
Philip Collopy and the murdered crime boss Kieran Keane, were involved in the killing of Eddie Ryan, a murder that escalated the feud in Limerick in November, 2000.
Judge Carroll Moran, before passing sentence on the brothers, said that the citizens of this country were entitled to expect the courts to protect them and their homes, and keep them safe.
He added that it had a “most traumatic and constricting influence on Mr Moran”, who was subjected to threats “with the additional hint of extortion or assault”.
The brothers were each given an eight- year sentence, with the last three years suspended for a period of eight years, and leave to appeal was refused.
The sentences were backdated to April 2010, when they were first taken into custody, and were also ordered to have no contact, directly or indirectly, with Mr Moran or any members of his family.
