THE killing of a Limerick man early yesterday morning brings to six the number of people who have died violently in the Southhill area of the city since 1994.
Mr John Keane (27), of O'Malley Park, Southhill, on the outskirts of Limerick, was gunned down in the garden of his bungalow home at 3 a.m. yesterday.
Known locally as "Keano", it is understood Mr Keane was linked to moneylending in the area.
Yesterday the bungalow was sealed off by gardai and plastic sheeting covered the garden. Mr Keane was shot in the upper body with a shotgun.
He was bleeding profusely when taken to the Limerick Regional Hospital, where he died. Spent cartridges were found at the scene.
Gardai confirmed they are investigating Mr Keane's involvement in moneylending but said they had not ruled out the possibility that the murder was linked to previous killings in O'Malley Park, where there has been feuding between a number of families.
Insp Frank O'Brien, of Roxboro Garda station, said two men, who were seen in O'Malley Park around the time of the shooting, were being sought for questioning.
It is believed Mr Keane, who was single and lived alone, was involved in a scuffle with the two men. Both were wearing balaclava helmets.
The fight with Mr Keane started in the house and then moved into the garden, where he was shot several times.
Yesterday the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, carried out a post mortem examination.
Garda sources in Limerick said the dead man had been involved in petty crime and was well known to them. Of athletic build, he was described as a quiet person who kept to himself.
The Mayor of Limerick, Mr Jim Kemmy, called for stricter gun control laws and said that the latest killing showed, once again, that criminals in the city no longer valued human life.
"In a civilised society we do not solve our disputes with guns. But these people have cheapened human life and they think nothing of wasting it in the most brutal way," he said.
It is particularly tragic because since last September O'Malley Park has been very quiet and a great community spirit has been developed there.
"The area has had a bad reputation, which is unfortunate, because the majority of those who live there are law abiding people involved in community activity.
"The trouble in the Southhill area is being caused by a small minority. I am extremely disturbed about the seemingly easy availability of weapons in this city.
I hope the Garda authorities will give this issue special attention. We cannot allow guns to become even more prolific," Mr Kemmy said.
Insp O'Brien said that gardai had excellent relations with the people of Southhill and confirmed that there had been no major incident there since last September.
An incident room has been established at Roxboro station(telephone 061 419555). Gardai can also be contacted on a confidential telephone line at 1800-666111.
Insp O'Brien appealed for information on the two men who were seen in O'Malley Park before the shooting.
A neighbour of the dead man, Mrs Catherine Moran, said yesterday the entire estate was shocked at the news of the killing.
I don't know what people must think of Southhill but the majority of us here get on very well together. I didn't really know him too well but I think what's happened is too awful for words" she said.