A MAN shot dead on a Limerick housing estate in the early hours of yesterday was gunned down by killers who mistook him for a gangland criminal they were sent to murder.
Shane Geoghegan (28) was returning home from watching the Ireland-Canada rugby game at a friend's house in the Kilteragh estate, Dooradoyle, just after 1.30am when his killers struck.
He was walking across a green area to his house a short distance away when he saw a gunman coming towards him and tried to run to safety.
He was cornered in a back garden in the Colmore area of Kilteragh, where he was shot dead.
His was the 17th gun murder of the year, while two other men are missing presumed shot dead.
The killing is the 14th homicide since 2000 linked to a Limerick feud.
Local people who heard the gunfire alerted gardaí and Mr Geoghegan's remains were found at 1.45am.
The remains were left at the scene overnight pending the arrival of the State pathologist, Prof Marie Cassidy. She examined the remains at the scene yesterday morning, before they were removed for postmortem to Limerick's Mid Western Regional Hospital.
Gardaí believe the killer was armed with a handgun and that he was driven to and from the scene by an accomplice in a dark-coloured Renault Espace. The car was later found burned out in Rossbrien.
The intended target of the attack has been aligned to the drugs gang once led by murdered criminal Kieran Keane.
On August 23rd, 2006, up to 20 shots were fired at his car and home, but he miraculously escaped without injury.
It is believed he was being targeted because of his close links to one of Limerick's main factions at the centre of an ongoing battle over the sale and supply of drugs in the city.
Mr Geoghegan was a talented rugby player and captained a team at the city's well-known Garryowen rugby club. Chief Supt Kevin Donohoe said gardaí see no "obvious or apparent reason" why the 28-year-old was targeted. "We know he was a resident in the area and he was shot within metres of his home."
Chief Supt Donohoe said a number of shots were fired, and said gardaí were anxious to speak to anyone who noticed a black or dark blue Renault Espace which was seen in the area on Saturday night or in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Some 40 officers are involved in the murder investigation, which is being led by Supt Frank O'Brien and Det Supt Jim Browne.
Members of the recently-established Regional Support Unit are also involved in the inquiry, and one of the two armed patrols which were on duty in Limerick on the night of the murder were first to the scene yesterday morning.