THE man charged with being the getaway driver in the murder of Roy Collins has been escorted to Limerick under armed guard to visit the remains of his deceased mother ahead of her funeral mass.
24-year-old Nathan Killeen is on trial for the killing of the Limerick business man in 2009 with Wayne Dundon and the day after his trial opened at the Special Criminal Court, the body of Nathan Killeen’s 55-year-old mother, Susan, was tragically recovered from the canal at Locke Quay in Limerick.
As the heavy armed convoy arrived at Cross’s funeral home shortly before 2pm this Wednesday, convicted criminal and brother of Killeen’s co-accused 26-year-old Ger Dundon arrived to pay his respects to the family.
Amid heightened security, a navy unmarked prison van accompanied by an armed unit of the RSU and an unmarked detective car brought Killeen to a gated area near the funeral home.
Killeen was taken from the van in the yard adjacent to the funeral home and brought to family members within the building. His mother’s remains lay in repose before being brought to the family home on Ash Avenue in John Carew Park ahead of the funeral mass on Thursday at the Holy Family Church in Southill.
Dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, 26-year-old Ger Dundon who was released from jail in January, was at the funeral home just as the prison van pulled up with Nathan Killeen shortly before 2pm.
The Garda RSU marked Volvo estate car blocked access to the road outside the funeral home for the duration of Killeen’s 15 minute visit.
Inside, members of Killeen’s family including Ciara, mother of two children with convicted murderer John Dundon, together with Linda Casey and extended family, briefly met with the 24-year-old.
Large floral tributes were brought to the funeral home before Susan Killeen’s remains were brought by a black hearse to the family home.
This is the second time Ciara has lost a family member in tragic circumstances.
In 2007 Nathan’s twin brother Gavin also died tragically.
Susan Killeen, whose maiden name was Casey, was originally from Hyde Road in Limerick but recently had an an address in Caherdavin, Limerick.
After she was found, Emergency services together with Gardai and rescue teams recovered the body at 1am after they responded to the alert of distress calls heard in the area.
Efforts were made to resuscitate her and she was taken to University Hospital Limerick where she was pronounced dead but Gardai not treating her death as suspicious.
Her funeral mass will take place at midday tomorrow at the Holy Family Church in Southill.
Last Tuesday, the three – all female – judge Special Criminal Court granted an application made by lawyers for Nathan Killeen that he be allowed attend his mother’s removal after they conveyed condolences to the 24-year-old standing trial.
Nathan Killeen, along with Wayne Dundon from Lenihan Avenue in Limerick, have both denied the murder of Roy Collins who was shot dead at the Coin Castle Amusement Arcade on April 9, 2009 last.
It is alleged that Killeen was the getaway driver for another man previously convicted and that Wayne Dundon was the organiser and “director” of the hit.
