Irish police hope feud is over

By James Helm
BBC News correspondent in Dublin

In the Irish city of Limerick there is concern among police officers that the jailing for life at the weekend of five men in connection with a murderous feud may lead to a further spiral of attacks.

In recent years Limerick has witnessed a violent gangland feud between two clans, the Keanes and the Ryans, which has brought killings, shootings, and the jailing of more than 20 people. The Gardai, the Irish police force, has struggled to cope.

Limerick has a reputation for "earthiness"

Five men were given life sentences at the weekend for the murder of 36-year-old Kieran Keane, who was abducted, tortured, shot in the head and dumped just outside the city in January.

They were also convicted of the attempted murder of Mr Keane's nephew, Owen Treacy, who became the state's key prosecution witness.

The trial was moved from Limerick to Dublin after problems in selecting a jury.

The Dublin jury were sequestered over the weekend - returning late on Saturday night - because of fears somebody would try to influence their deliberations.

Five men - Anthony "Noddy" McCarthy, 21, James McCarthy, 24, Dessie Dundon, 20, Chris "Smokey" Costelloe, 20, and David "Frog's Eye" Stanners, 31 - were jailed for life.

At the end of the trial Anthony McCarthy shouted at Keane's relatives in the public gallery: "For every action there's a reaction - remember that".

The feud centres on a feud between the Keanes and the Ryans which began in 1998 when the two patriarchs fell out over a relatively minor dispute.

People see and read all about the trials but the amount of planned attacks, from bombings to shootings, that have been thwarted, is staggering Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly

Since Kieran Keane's death there have been two further killings and two attempted murders linked to it.

Last month another Limerick murder trial collapsed after witnesses withdrew their testimonies.

Hard-pressed Garda officers welcomed the convictions in what they said was a long-term battle against violent, organised crime in the city.

But they are concerned gangs were buying heavier weaponry, including long-range rifles.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly, who leads Limerick's police effort to deal with violence between the factions, told The Irish Independent: "People see and read all about the trials but the amount of planned attacks, from bombings to shootings, that have been thwarted, is staggering."

For the city itself, the violence represents a recurring nightmare.

Image problem

Limerick has suffered from an image problem in the past, due in part to the sometimes grim picture painted of it in the internationally-acclaimed book Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt.

Its efforts to promote itself have suffered recently.

The local member of the Irish Parliament, Willie O'Dea, is also the justice minister, and he believes the violence has badly affected investment and tourism in the city, which sits on the river Shannon.

For now though, the police and government, as well as the vast majority of people in Limerick, will be hoping for a festive period free from retaliations and further attacks.