O'Donoghue crime gang 'enforcer' to be sentenced for part in Limerick shootings

Ryan Dunne

An "enforcer" and a drug dealer are due to be sentenced this month for their part in shootings that occurred in Limerick last year as part of an ongoing violent feud between rival criminal gangs.

The Special Criminal Court on Monday heard that John O’Donovan (19) is a “fixer” or “enforcer” in the O’Donoghue crime group, who are involved in large scale drug dealing in Limerick.

The court also heard that his co-accused, Shane Blackhall (21) was the driver of a vehicle that crashed after shots were fired at homes in the Hyde Avenue area of the city last year.

Their arrests follow a garda investigation into a violent feud between the O’Donoghue group and another criminal organisation, which has resulted in some 36 shootings and a number of explosive attacks since 2022.

At a previous court sitting, Blackhall, of Mungret Court, Watergate Flats, Limerick, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, cannabis and diamorphine for sale or supply at Mungret Court on June 10th, 2025.

He further pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm on January 6th at Hyde Avenue in Limerick in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable suspicion that he did not have it for a lawful purpose.

Blackhall is further charged that on June 1st, 2025, at Ashbourne Avenue, Limerick, he did unlawfully use a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner.

Co-accused O'Donovan, of Valley View, O'Malley Park, Southill, Limerick, pleaded guilty to a charge that between April 26th and May 8th, 2025, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in or contributed to activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could, facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation or any of its members, to wit, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

O'Donovan faces three further charges of unlawfully using a mechanically propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner, in Limerick on April 27th, 2025, and May 8th, 2025, and in Monasterevin on April 26th, 2025.

He also faces a charge of arson at Ashroe, Limerick, on May 8th, 2025.

Ongoing feud

At a sentencing hearing on Monday before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court, Sgt Eoin McDonagh gave evidence to counsel for the State, Maddie Grant, that the charges arise out of an ongoing feud between rival factions in Limerick.

He said that on January 6th, 2025, there was a report from a member of the public of the discharge of a firearm at Hyde Avenue.

There were then further reports of a vehicle having crashed into a lamppost at the nearby Ashbourne Avenue, with two males in balaclavas seen leaving the crashed vehicle.

Significant damage was caused to the bonnet and front bumper, with both front seat airbags having been activated. The vehicle was seized, with 9mm shell casings found in the rear of the vehicle.

Sgt McDonagh told the court that a search was carried out of the avenue where the gunshots were heard, with a total of five spent 9mm casings found, as well as an indentation on a wall which was caused by a bullet having hit it.

The sergeant said that forensic swabs were taken from the airbags, with Blackhall’s DNA found on the driver’s airbag.

Sgt McDonagh confirmed that the shell casings were all 9mm Luger ammunition, with a strong indication that they were fired from the same Glock pattern semi-automatic pistol, which was never recovered.

Sgt McDonagh next gave evidence that on June 10th, 2025, a search of the defendant's home was carried out, with gardaí finding cocaine valued at €1,730, heroin valued at €420, and herbal cannabis worth €26,200.

He said that the defendant’s phone was seized, with images on it offering cannabis for sale in various quantities, as well as tick lists containing names and amounts owed.

Drug debt

Sgt McDonagh said that Blackhall took responsibility for the drugs, telling gardaí that he was holding them as he owed a drug debt, claiming that both he and his family members had been threatened. Sgt McDonagh said that Blackhall told gardaí he owed a debt of €7,000.

The court heard that Blackhall had 26 previous convictions.

Det Garda Gary Stack gave evidence to Ms Grant that the arrests arise out of an investigation into the O’Donoghue crime group, who have been involved in drugs on a large scale, as well as assaults and extortion, since 2022.

He said there was a violent feud with another group, with 36 shootings and a number of explosive attacks recorded since then.

Det Garda Stack said this crime organisation was a tier group, with the top tier all having a familial connection, while the second tier is “middle management”, the third tier being “fixers and enforcers”, and the final level below that are “runners and drug dealers”.

The detective said that O’Donovan was in tier three and is a “direct line operative” who executes the orders of the higher tiers.

Det Garda Stack said that on the night of May 8th, 2025, there was an anonymous call from a member of the public who heard gunfire and a car speeding away from Hyde Avenue. He said that three houses were shot at, with various members of the Collins family making statements to the gardaí about bullets smashing windows in their homes.

One woman made a statement that the gunshot shattered her front window, which had Perspex on it to make it harder to break, and she could hear gunshots going up the road.

Another woman said she heard a number of bangs, which she knew were gunshots because of previous incidents, so she went straight to the ground to protect herself. She said that a vase exploded after the shot came through the front window.

Det Garda Stack said a technical examination at Hyde Avenue recovered the casings of nine bullets, which were 9mm Luger calibre and fired from a Glock pattern semi-automatic pistol.

He confirmed that this was linked to the firearm that was used in the Hyde Avenue incident on January 6th, which was not recovered.

Det Garda Stack told the court that a video clip taken by the perpetrators in the vehicle used was circulated on social media soon after the incident. This clip showed the inside of the suspect vehicle, with a gunman firing at all three houses.

The car used was an Audi, which was reported stolen from the Dublin area on April 25th and later burnt out.

Another vehicle was also stolen on that same date, a white Lexus. Det Garda Stack said the Audi was “the hit vehicle”, while the Lexus was “the blender vehicle”.

He confirmed that O’Donovan was driving the Lexus on the night of the shooting, but the defendant did drive both vehicles at various points in the days before.

The court heard that O’Donovan had 30 previous convictions.

Judge Patrick McGrath put both cases back to July 27th for sentencing.

Five other men, four from Limerick and one from Dublin, are also due to stand trial in relation to their alleged involvement in these offences.

The four Limerick men are Anthony Curtin (26), Railway House, Spitland, Old Cork Road; Seamus Curtin (21), Crecora Avenue, Ballinacurra; Jonathon Curtin (19), Tara Court, Watergate Flats; and Anthony McNamara (19), Moinear, Clonmacken. The Dublin man is Dillon Keegan (24), Deansrath Avenue, Clondalkin.

All four Limerick men face charges of participating in the activity of a criminal organisation, to wit, the O’Donoghue criminal organisation, with Anthony Curtin and Dillion Keegan further facing charges relating to stolen vehicles at Junction 14, Mayfield, Monasterevin, on April 26th, 2025, while Seamus Curtin is further facing a charge of arson in relation to a car.

They are due to stand trial before the Special Criminal Court on January 11th next year.