THE 26-year-old son of murdered gang boss Kieran Keane has admitted making a false statement about his car being stolen when it was involved in a head on collision that left an 80-year-old pensioner in a critical condition.
In 2003, Kieran Keane was shot dead in one of the bloodiest periods of the Limerick gangland feuds. He was killed for the revenge shooting of Eddie Ryan in the Moose Bar in 2000.
15 years later, it was CCTV footage from outside the same bar that would unravel the lies told by his son, Kieran Keane Junior in making a false statement to Gardaí.
Garda Aled Harken told Limerick Circuit Court that Keane (26) a single father of two, made a formal statement that his car had been stolen sometime between April 5 and 6 last year.
Garda Harken said that he called to Keane’s Garryowen home in the early hours of April 6 as part of the investigation into a serious road traffic collision in which his car was involved.
The car was driven by his cousin Richard Treacy at speed and on the wrong side of the road, head-on into a car carrying a woman and her 80-year-old mother. Such was the impact of the collision, the 80-year-old pensioner was left in critical condition in hospital after her car was spun around 180 degrees.
Last Monday, Richard Treacy (27) of Gillogue, Clonlara, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing bodily injury to the woman and is to be sentenced later this year.
Garda Harken said that the two youths in the car fled the scene.
Keane told Gardaí he was out drinking and must have lost his keys while walking home and that led to his car being stolen.
Gardaí found CCTV footage that placed both Keane and Treacy at the Moose Bar and then getting in to the car less than 30 minutes before the crash. Footage then captured persons wearing similar clothing fleeing the scene of the accident.
Keane was treated in hospital for a shoulder injury in the immediate aftermath of the crash and when Garda Harken called to his home later the same day, his shoulder was in a plaster cast.
The following day, Keane made a voluntary statement to gardai which he declined to have video taped.
He answered a number of questioned but indicated that he didn’t remember much as he had been out drinking all day after a soccer match.
Prosecution Counsel John O’Sullivan said that Keane told gardai that he wasn’t answering any more “stupid questions” and walked out of the interview as he wasn’t under arrest.
Garda Harken secured CCTV footage for a wide number of sources in the aftermath and Keane’s story unraveled.
He was arrested a month later but made no admissions.
He subsequently admitted making a false statement.
Mr O’Sullivan said that Keane’s lie “quickly became very transparent.”
The court heard that Keane had a number of minor previous convictions for road traffic offences, handling stolen goods and dangerous driving.
Defence Counsel Brian McInerney said that Keane had a lot to drink and that he did not face any charge relating to the crash.
He added that the 26-year-old was on disability and he hoped to return to light construction work when his shoulder injury healed.
Judge O’Donnell adjourned sentencing to October 28.
