Man held over Christy Keane shooting remains in custody

A man believed to have been involved in planning the gangland-style shooting of Christy Keane in Limerick remained in custody on Tuesday night.

Gardaí said one of the getaway cars used in the attempted murder – a red Ford Focus hatchback – was stolen in Dublin just over a month ago.

They are anxious to speak to anyone who may have seen the 132 Dublin-registered vehicle around Limerick in the weeks before the shooting.

The man in custody is in his 30s and from the north of Limerick city. He is known to gardaí.

He is not believed to have carried out Monday morning’s shooting but to have had a role in planning the attack, which took place shortly before 6.45am in a car park outside the University of Limerick Sports Arena, as Keane made his way to a gym session.

Two damaged handguns were found in the car which was found on fire in Monaleen shortly after the shooting. It is understood the gunmen threw the handguns into the flames, reducing the risk of them being recovered intact.

A second high-powered getaway vehicle – a white Volvo v70 with English registration plates, was found on fire in the Drombana area.

Keane, a convicted drug dealer, was shot at least four times in the upper body and arms but managed to flee 100 metres before he collapsed behind the sports arena. He is in a stable condition in hospital. Gardaí are waiting to formally interview the father of two, who is a brother of murdered gangland figure Kieran Keane.