Dáil to hear statements on murder of Shane Geoghegan
TDs from all parties are due to make statements in the Dáil today expressing their revulsion at the murder of Shane Geoghegan in Limerick last weekend.
The Garryowen rugby player was gunned down near his home after apparently being mistaken for a drug dealer who lives in the area.
The murder is being linked to the ongoing feud between rival criminal gangs in Limerick. At least 13 people have been murdered in a long-running turf war between the McCarthy-Dundon and Keane-Callopy groups.
Opposition parties are expected to use today's statements to call for more draconian legislation to crack down on organised criminals.
Earlier this week, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said his party would support any government measures aimed at taking the criminals off the streets.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has insisted that existing legislation is adequate to address the problem.
Thousands of people attended Shane Geoghegan's funeral in the city yesterday, including teammates from Garryowen rugby club.
The rugby community banded together with Irish internationals Gerry Flannery and David Wallace joined by former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan and the head of the New Zealand Rugby Union.
The Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp Commandant Michael Treacy while Defence Minister and Limerick TD Willie O’Dea attended along with Labour’s Jan O’Sullivan.
The murder has prompted the country’s most senior politicians to express their disgust and Taoiseach Brian Cowen warned every effort would be made to bring the killers to justice.
