Andrew Carey
TWO men arrested for questioning over the attempted murder of Limerick drug dealer Christy Keane have been released without charge after spending seven days in Garda custody.
However a woman in her 30s remains in garda custody after she was arrested on Tuesday night.
Keane, (55) was shot a number of times in the car park of the University of Limerick Sports Arena on June 25 last in an early morning hit that resulted in two getaway cars being burned out in a nearby estate near where Keane’s younger brother Kieran was murdered in 2003.
Five men, Desmond Dundon, of Hyde Road; David “Frogs Eyes” Stanners, of Pineview Gardens, Moyross; James McCarthy, of Delmege Park, Moyross; Christopher “Smokie” Costelloe, of Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty Beg and Anthony “Noddy” McCarthy, of Fairgreen, Garryowen were all jailed for life after they were convicted of murdering Kieran Keane and for the attempted murder of Owen Treacy.
Nine arrests have been made in connection with the attempted murder of Christy Keane and Gardaí made three applications before special sittings of Limerick District Court to extend the periods of detention for two men who were arrested last Tuesday week.
A third man in his 50s, who was also arrested last Tuesday, was later released without charge.
Christy Keane was left in a critical condition after he suffered a number of gunshot wounds.
Gardai are continuing to investigate a line of inquiry that a hand gun used by one of the would-be assassins jammed as Keane got ready to go to the University Arena gym around 6.40am.
Chief Superintendent Dave Sheahan said that the investigation was being carried out “expeditiously”.
On Tuesday night, the two men from the Northside of the city, were released without charge.
Gardai say that the preparation of a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions is continuing but they are now focusing their investigation on the questioning of the woman in her 30s who was arrested on the northside of the city.
The woman can be detained for a period of 72 hours.
