A man who died as a result of stab wounds in Limerick yesterday was connected with a prominent drugs gang and had been recently charged with possession of ecstasy tablets with a £1 million street value.
He was named locally as Mr Brian Hanley (20), of Beech court House, Meelick, Co Clare. He was on bail from Limerick District Court and had been drinking in a pub at Hassett's Cross, Killeely, on the city's north side. He is believed to have been associated with a Limerick criminal gang formerly headed by Eddie Ryan, who was shot in a pub in a gangland feud last November.
Gardai said Mr Hanley had been drinking in Hassett's pub early yesterday morning when an argument broke out among up to a dozen men. It continued in the street and Mr Hanley is believed to have received one stab wound which left him seriously injured. Gardai found him lying unconscious at Cregan Avenue, 200 yards from the pub, at 1.30 a.m. He was rushed to the Mid-West Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3 a.m.
The scene, opposite St Lelia's Church where Eddie Ryan's funeral was held last November, was preserved for forensic examination and access to Cregan Avenue was restricted to residents of the terraced street.
Insp John Scanlon of Henry Street Garda station said no motive had been established yet for the murder. He appealed for people who were in the pub at closing time on Saturday night and who witnessed any disturbance to come forward. He also asked witnesses to a disturbance at O'Callaghan and Cregan avenues between midnight and 1.30 a.m. to come forward. He said a number of lines of inquiry were being followed and items had been recovered from the scene for examination.
This was the third murder in Limerick in the past fortnight. Gardai discounted speculation that it occurred as a result of a gang feud. Early indications are that it occurred after a row which got out of hand.
Mr Hanley and another man had been charged recently with possession of ecstasy tablets for sale or supply at Beechcourt House on June 19th following the discovery of around 100,000 ecstasy tablets.