'OUTRAGE OF ALL OUTRAGES'

LIMERICK'S gang feud yesterday claimed the life of a rugby captain
who was gunned down in cold blood after he was mistaken for a
big-time drugs importer who had moved into his neighbourhood.

Shane Geoghegan, aged 28, described as "one of the brightest and the
best" died in a hale of bullets at around 1.30am.

It is believed he was struck up to 10 times.

Members of the McCarthy/Dundon gang are the main suspects.

It is believed they went to kill a drugs importer who supplies the
rival Keane/Collopy gang but got the wrong man.

Shane Geoghegan was captain of Garryowen rugby club's third side and
worked as a fitter.

The murder was carried out as he walked near his home at Kilteragh
estate in Dooradoyle, after watching the Ireland-Canada
international on TV with friends.

He had lined out for his club earlier against Shannon.

His only sister, Katie, died aged 12 some years ago from leukaemia
and he has one younger brother, Anthony.

A personal friend of the dead man, Niall Collins TD, said: "This is
the outrage of all outrages. I knew Shane well. A lovely guy and a
thorough gentleman, a fine cut of a fellow.

"We played together with Garryowen. He qualified as a fitter and
went abroad for a while. Shane was as sound a guy you could meet.
Now the inevitable has happened with this feud -- a fine person has
been murdered. He is walking home and these fellows chase him and
shoot him. They are callous bastards."

Bullets were sprayed along the Clonmore cul-de-sac, where he lived
with his partner, from at least one powerful handgun.

As he ran for his life the killers cornered Mr Geoghegan at the back
of a house at Clonmore where his body was found by a patio door.

When gardai were called, Mr Geoghegan was already dead.

Gardai are satisfied that the intended target was a known major
drugs importer who also lives in Kilteragh with his girlfriend and
has a villa in Spain, from which he recently returned. Shots were
fired at the drug lord in the neighbourhood more than a year ago.

A neighbour of Shane Geoghegan said: "He was one of the brightest
and the best.

"His only brother Anthony, who is a few years younger, did
engineering at Limerick Institute of Technology where their uncle lectures.

"Shane idolised his mother Mary, who also lives in Kilteragh, having
moved from Gouldavoher just down the road.

"His only sister Katie died some years ago and now the family have
lost a great son."

Shane's father is Tom Geoghegan and his family are well known in
Limerick -- having owned the Marian nursing home in O'Connell Avenue.

After the body was removed to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital a
postmortem was carried out by state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy.

Supt Frank O'Brien, of Roxboro Road station, said: "The victim had
no criminal connection whatsoever and we would appeal for anybody
who may have any information whatever to come forward."

Superintendent Kevin Donoghue said gardai were appealing for anyone
who might have information about a black or blue Renault Espace seen
in the area of the crime and which was later found burnt out in the
Rosbrien area to contact them.