Ger Dundon walked into Limerick court offices yesterday evening
Ger Dundon (21) had been sought by gardai to begin a 10-month jail sentence since he failed to appear for a Circuit Court appeal on October 24 last. He was handed the jail term after he pleaded guilty to a total of 34 motoring offences, including illegally driving a bullet- proof and armour-plated BMW supplied by his gang, the notorious McCarthy-Dundons. Gardai believe the same outfit is responsible for the brutal slaying of Mr Geoghegan on Sunday. Dundon, of Hyde Road, Ballinacurra-Weston, Limerick walked into Limerick court offices yesterday evening. He contacted gardai and gave himself over to officers. He was last night spending his first night of a 10-month sentence in Limerick prison. Investigating officers are certain to ask Dundon if he played any role, or had any knowledge of the network behind Mr Geoghegan's killing. His arrest came just hours after Limerick came to a virtual standstill for the funeral of the latest innocent victim of the city's murderous feud. On a bitterly cold day, more than 2,000 attended the emotional funeral service while hundreds more lined the three-mile route to the cemetery. Bishop of Limerick Dr Donal Murray issued a plea for an end to the 'evil feud' between the city's gangs.
In a letter to the congregation, he said: "The death of Shane has shocked all of Limerick and beyond. This senseless killing of an innocent man, with his whole life before him, is further evidence of the futility of this evil feud, and the callous inhumanity with which it is pursued." As Mr Geoghegan's remains were carried through the city, gardai stepped up their search for the murder weapon. Yesterday morning, Ger Dundon failed to appear at a district court sitting in the city on public order offences, and a second bench warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested on October 13 at Mill Lane, Henry Street, Limerick and charged with offensive behaviour and intoxication -- after he allegedly urinated on a garda patrol car.
Court staff were said to be shocked when the criminal appeared before them yesterday to begin his jail sentence. But his older brother, John Dundon (28), failed to appear before Judge Tom O'Donnell yesterday. A bench warrant has been issued for his arrest. John Dundon was also charged on October 13 last of using threatening and abusive behaviour in Pineview Gardens, Moyross. His whereabouts were still unknown last night. Despite his young age, Ger Dundon has now amassed almost 50 convictions. Last August, he was jailed for nine months after he attempted to use a false passport in Cork airport to board a European flight. In April 2004, he received a three-year suspended prison sentence for possessing €30,000 worth of drugs for sale or supply. He was 15-years-old. Within four months he had committed three breaches of the Public Order Act including, on one occasion, roaring and jeering outside the St Mary's Park home of Owen Treacy -- the nephew of murdered crime boss Kieran Keane. As a result Dundon had broken his bond to keep the peace and the suspended sentence was activated in 2005. The McCarthy-Dundons have been to the forefront of crime in Limerick since the return of gang members from the UK in the late 1990s. Officers investigating the weekend murder say it is progressing well. More than 50 gardai are involved. Justice Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday reiterated his vow to wage war on the country's criminal gangs, as he promised to push resources into policing the streets and busting gangland bosses. The minister said he had secured additional money for next year to increase the allocation ringfenced to tackle serious crime -- from €20m to €21m. The budget available to the Criminal Assets Bureau has also been increased by 20pc.
