Spade killer who beat brother of alleged gangland figure to death was member of Keane gang
A man who beat the brother of an alleged Limerick gangland figure to death with a shovel had been an active member of the Keane gang in the city.
This week a court heard how Joe Cahill hit Ger Curtin four times with a shovel outside his home in Garryowen in November, 2023.
Eight days later Cahill's house was attacked with a petrol bomb and his family had to move out, while his sister's house was also attacked with a firebomb.
The dead man's brother, Shane Curtin, has been a target of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), which stated in evidence he is active in the importation of drugs into the country.
He was a key figure in the running of the multi-million euro Bawn Motors, which was set up to launder cash from Limerick's gangs.
Ger Curtin (pictured) was battered with a shovel by Joe Cahill
In a separate recent Cab case against Kieran Keane Jnr, Cahill was cited in evidence as being a member of the gang.
It stated that Cahill operated within the gang as 'an effective money launderer' and although he has no convictions, he is a close associate of others who have been prosecuted.
Warning
In early 2019, Cahill was served with three warning notices by gardaí that there was a threat to his life or to his personal safety, according the evidence.
His association with the head of the gang, Christy Keane, became known in 2016 when a greyhound, reported to be worth €1 million, was stolen and a ransom demanded.
Joe Cahill
Cahill headed up the syndicate which owned the dog, Clares Rocket, and which was retrieved after Keane intervened.
One member of the consortium told the Sunday World at the time that they did a deal when the 'dognappers' realised they were in over their heads.
'The dog would come back, there'd be no ransom, but they didn't want any more trouble,' he said at the time.
Bawn Motors
At a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing this week, it was heard how a garda at the scene on the killing in 2023 noted Cahill saying: 'I hit him with a shovel, I hope the c**t is dead.'
At a previous hearing this year, Cahill had pleaded guilty to manslaughter after Ger Curtin smashed windows, threatened to burn the house down and demanded money.
Cahill opened the door and used the shovel — which had been propping the door shut — to hit Curtin knocking him to the ground.
Protect
Before hitting him another three times with the shovel, Cahill had called the emergency services.
He later told the call-taker: 'I think he's dead... I had to protect my kids.
Joe Cahill and gang boss Christy Keane
News in 90 Seconds - Monday, August 4th
'I don't give a f**k about going to jail. I beat a shovel off his head and I kept beating, to tell you the truth.'
Members of the Curtin family walked out of the courtroom on Thursday when Cahill's defence counsel began to read out a letter of apology from him.
Counsel for the State said the offence warrants a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years, while the defence asked for 'maximum leniency when the sentence is delivered on November 24.
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