Man charged in connection with drive-by gun attack actively involved in Limerick feud, court hears
The gun attack occurred on May 8th when a masked gunman driving a stolen black Audi A4 fired multiple shots from a semi-automaton handgun at occupied homes at Hyde Road, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick.
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Gardaí alleged during a bail hearing, Monday, that John O'Donovan, (18), Vally View, Southill, Limerick, was involved in a feud between rival crime families and that he was involved with others in the shooting.
The drive-by gun attack was video recorded on a mobile phone and shared on social media, gardaí told the court.
Mr O'Donovan is accused of three counts of using or possessing cars, which were stolen from Dublin and used in the shooting.
He is also charged with one count of arson in respect of the car that gardaí allege was used in the shooting.
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Detective Garda Darragh Conroy, Roxboro Road garda station, Limerick, told the court that Mr O'Donovan made 'no reply' when cautioned after he was charged with the four offences.
Objecting to bail, Det Gda Conroy said Mr O'Donovan was arrested as part of the investigation into the shooting, which he said was linked to 'a violent feud involving the Collins family and the O'Donoghue organised crime group'.
Detective Gda Conroy said a 'semi-automatic firearm' was discharged at a number of 'occupied' homes at Hyde Road, and that Gardai observed 'bullet holes' in the front windows and front doors of the residential properties.
Although the houses were occupied, there were no reports of injuries to persons.
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Detective Garda Conroy alleged that a black Audi A4 and a white Lexus NX 300h were stolen in Dublin on April 25th last and driven to Junction 14 service station, at Monasterevin, Co Kildare.
Garda Conroy alleged Mr O'Donovan and others attended the service station where 'an exchange' of the stolen vehicles occurred, and that Mr O'Donovan took possession of the Lexus SUV from a 'Dublin criminal'.
The stolen cars were driven 'in convoy' from the service station to Limerick, the Lexus, which gardaí allege was driven by Mr O'Donovan, was parked up at the Kilmurry Lodge Hotel, Limerick until it was used again on the night of the shooting to ferry Mr O'Donovan and others to Murroe Co Limerick where gardaí located the Audi A4 'burnt out'.
Garda Conroy said gardaí observed 'bullet holes' in an 'upstairs bedroom window' of one of the houses targeted in the gun attack, and that 'shots were fired through the front door' of another property.
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'All of the houses were occupied. Eight spent 9mm cartridges were found at the scene,' Det Gda Conroy said.
Garda Conroy said the driver of the stolen black Audi - who was not identified in court - 'using a semi-automatic firearm, fired shots at properties from a moving vehicle', and that the occupants of the car 'recorded a video' of the gun attack.
Detective Garda Conroy alleged that the Lexus travelled in convoy with the Audi to Murroe, Co Limerick where it was found burned.
Garda Conroy further alleged that Mr O'Donovan was captured on CCTV footage at a filling station purchasing gloves and placing a container of petrol into the stolen Lexus before driving the vehicle away prior to he shooting.
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The garda alleged that Mr O'Donovan supplied the fuel used to torch the stolen Audi and that his mobile phone was turned off prior to the shooting and turned back on again minutes after the shooting.
A text message was sent to Mr O'Donovan's mobile phone explaining that Gardai were on route to the scene of the shooting, Det Gda Conroy also alleged.
A search of the online travel agency 'Booking.com' was conducted on Mr O'Donovan's phone immediately after the text message was received, Garda Conroy alleged.
Garda Conroy told the court: 'It is my belief that he (Mr O'Donovan) will continue to be involved in the feud, commit further offences, and there would be a further risk to property and risk of loss of life if he was granted bail'.
Garda Conroy said Mr O'Donovan, represented by solicitor Sarah Ryan, had 'maintained his right to silence' throughout interviews with Gardai following his arrest.
Judge Patricia Harney said she was satisfied to refuse bail and remanded Mr O'Donovan in custody to appear before Limerick District Court via video-link for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on Tuesday, June 17th.
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