Man who caused death of niece weeks after she gave birth is gangster's brother
A MAN who admitted causing the death of his niece after ramming steel gates with a van is the younger brother of a Limerick gangland figure.
Danny O'Donoghue (42) pleaded guilty this week to dangerous driving causing the death of 21-year-old Marguerita O'Rourke in Rathkeale just days before Christmas.
He also admitted possession of a machete, making threats to kill and causing criminal damage to a van.
O'Donoghue who has been in custody since his arrest last December is due to be sentenced in October.
His brother John O'Donoghue is a convicted drug dealer who has also been targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
John recently spent time in Portlaoise Prison before a conviction for a feud-related attack in Rathkeale was quashed on appeal and he was set free last year.
His brother Danny appeared by video-link from the same prison this week at Limerick Circuit Court.
John O'Donoghue
Marguerita O'Rourke, who had her first child just three weeks earlier, had been closing steel gates to a property when Danny O'Donoghue hit the gates, killing her.
The property is not far from the house where John O'Donoghue lives and which has been the target of an attempted pipe bomb attack in the past.
It was also the scene of raid by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
During his two years behind bars, it also emerged in a Cab case that John O'Donoghue was regarded as significant player in massive money laundering scheme.
The senior investigating officer also described O'Donoghue as being 'closely associated' with Eds McCarthy, a leading figure in the McCarthy-Dundon gang.
In the Cab case against a car firm, Bawn Motors, it was highlighted how O'Donoghue had 'established himself as a key figure in the international drugs trade' and has 'extensive criminal contacts with the wider Traveller community'.
It was also stated he had met with Chirsty Keane, the leading member of Limerick's Keane gang at a Rathkeale pub along with one of Keane's most trusted lieutenants Dermot 'Pum' McManus.
Flowers at Marguerita's funeral
Since Marguerite's death family members have continued to post heartfelt tributes to the young woman expressing their huge sense of loss.
Even this as news of the court case went online this week one woman commented: 'My beautiful sister you didn't deserve this l love you so much forever in my heart.'
Her death last Christmas came after a number of incidents of violence in the Co Limerick town during the traditional influx of people ahead of Christmas.
A house was damaged and in a shocking incident in which a BMW X5 was used to smash into property and was then set alight in November.
In October a truck was used to damage a property in another incident and petrol bombs thrown at a house.
Three years ago, Rathkeale saw a terrifying incident during the Christmas period in which a series of vehicles were rammed and written off.
The Sunday World revealed at the time that the incident came as part of a three-way fight for dominance between criminal gangs.
In a video of the aftermath a machete was visible lying on the road.
Just a few weeks before Ms O'Rourke's tragic death, a man was attacked by hurley-wielding assailants and his car smashed up in the town.
Marguerita O'Rourke (née Sheridan)
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st
At one point there were plans to close a number of roads in the town as part of a garda operation did not go ahead after objections from local residents.
Ms O'Rourke's funeral became a memorable as well as a huge vigil in the Co Limerick town, where balloons were released into the sky.
Among the many heartfelt tributes online was one from her brother Freddy, who said at the time it had taken him days to able to put his feelings into words.
He said that Christmas would never be the same, 'not just Christmas; my life will never be the same' and that she had left behind 'a very special boy.'
He added that he couldn't believe he was saying 'rest in peace, our Marguerita.'
Her father John paid tribute to the people who had shown such public support for the family for the daughter he described as 'a true legend.'
Hundreds of family and friends turned out on Christmas at a candlelit vigil in the town on Christmas Eve.
In a social media post he thanked 'the gardaí, nurses, doctors, priests, the settled people in Rathkeale, the Travelling people and everyone for their messages.
'The local shops, hotels for everything and everyone who called to my house and everyone over the world, thank you.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
19 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Hutch gangster James ‘Mago' Gately lying low on ‘best behaviour' in Dublin after CAB Coolock home seizure & driving ban
HUTCH gangster James 'Mago' Gately is on his 'best behaviour' and lying low — after returning to his old haunt following the seizure of his home. The 38-year-old is back in 6 James Gately is back in Dublin's north inner city Credit: Padraig O'Reilly Freelance 6 Gately is currently banned from driving as he was convicted of Drug Driving in Donegal last year, so is seen zooming around on a bike Credit: Padraig O'Reilly Freelance 6 CAB took over his home in April Credit: cab The former top target for the Locals who have spotted him say he has been living out in the open as he appears to be enjoying life back where he grew up. Sources explained that he has not come on the radar of However, he and his associates are always kept under watch. One told us: 'Obviously James Gately is well known to gardai but he has been keeping a low profile. 'He has been on his best behaviour in public, and he has not come to the attention in the area. 'But clearly he is someone who has been associated with Gately recently found himself in hot water once more following the seizure of his They found that its stairs, kitchen, internal doors, architraves and other fittings were stripped. In an affidavit, Gately told the DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY But Judge Alexander Owens said the home should now be sold as soon as possible. Once that is done, it should be assessed what the damage had caused to the value of the home and the judge would then make a decision on what should be done. However, his partner Charlene Lam — who the High Court had heard claims that Mago had split with her — will get €11,000 back for legitimate The couple were tackled by the bureau in a long running case, with Mr Justice Owens declaring that they had spent their 'exotic lifestyle' in airport terminals and on luxury cruises in trips funded by criminal He said that their house was 'overwhelmingly' the proceeds of crime, while they were also stripped of a 132 VW Globetrotting thug Gately first bought the house in 2013 for €125,000. It was then upgraded and renovated for a cost of up to €440,000 with a large two-story extension at the back — with the judge describing it as a 'very high standard' renovation. ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS In submissions to the High Court, CAB said that Gately is a leading member of the They said the gang was involved in armed robberies and the importation of Gately was the subject of two assassination attempts by mob boss CAB also submitted to the High Court he was involved in a number of armed robberies himself. It alleged that he was linked to a number of murders, including that of Aidan Byrne and Eamon 'The Don' Dunne in 2010 along with the killing of David Byrne at the Gately was never convicted of any of these offences. 6 Gately's partner Charlene Lamb will get €11,000 back for legitimate mortgage payments on the family home Credit: Padraig O'Reilly Freelance 6 The Criminal Assets Bureau also stripped them of a 132 VW Golf and a plush €4,400 Rolex watch 6 Gately was the subject of two assassination attempts by mob boss Daniel Kinahan's organisation
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Off-duty bouncer "no longer the same man" after violent hotel assault
An off-duty bouncer who was violently attacked by two men whom he had previously barred from a hotel in Arklow is 'no longer the same man' after being forced into early retirement due to the severity of his injuries. A Polish national who attacked the victim near his workplace while he was off-duty on Christmas Eve five years ago was sentenced to three years in prison for the attack. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim had suffered serious facial injuries after being struck in the head with a bottle on Main Street, Arklow on December 24, 2019. Mateusz Gorecki (31), of Ferrybank, Arklow, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Paul Lee, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The unemployed male, who has been living in Ireland for 14 years, also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury on the same date. Garda Emmet Furlong gave evidence that the injured man was sitting in his car outside the Royal Hotel on Main Street, Arklow at around 10pm on Christmas Eve five years ago to collect his partner from work. Garda Furlong said Mr Lee saw Gorecki and another male, with whom he had interactions in the past in his role as a bouncer at the hotel. The witness said the two men had been barred from the premises by Mr Lee as a result of a previous incident. He told the court that Mr Lee felt the two men, one of whom seemed to have a bottle in his hand, were glaring at him before they walked up and down past his vehicle on the other side of the road. Garda Furlong told prosecution counsel, James Kelly, BL that the bouncer got out of his car to go to speak to the pair. Video footage of the incident was played in court which showed that Gorecki attempted to hit Mr Lee before throwing a bottle at his head. The accused's companion had punched and kicked the victim between the two actions by Gorecki. The court heard that Mr Lee was referred to three different hospitals over the Christmas holiday period for treatment for his injuries. Garda Furlong said the victim suffered fractures to his skull, eye socket and cheekbone and required surgery to implant three plates in his face. He told Mr Kelly that Gorecki was 'nonplussed' by what happened when arrested and claimed he had not thrown a bottle. The witness said the accused was still of the view that the bottle had not hit Mr Lee, despite the video evidence. The court heard that Gorecki had no previous convictions at the time of the assault on the bouncer but had subsequently been convicted of two public order offences for being intoxicated in a public place. Cross-examined by defence counsel, Feargal Kavanagh SC, as to who was the principal protagonist in the assault, Garda Furlong said Gorecki caused the most damage but his accomplice, who received an 18-month prison sentence for his role, was 'more of a leader.' The court heard Gorecki had been drinking at a party in his sister's house in Arklow earlier on Christmas Eve. In a victim impact statement, which was read on his behalf by his son, Mr Lee (54) said he had been a proud, hard-working man before the attack but had been forced into early retirement by an act of unprovoked violence. He told the court that the assault had not just caused him the normal physical agony but had devastated his life entirely. Mr Lee said the psychological effects were 'insidious and even more profound' and he had suffered chronic and persistent damage. The court heard he suffers from seizures and 'insufferable headaches' as well as blurred vision and post-traumatic stress disorder. 'I do not recognise myself,' said Mr Lee. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week He claimed that work provided him with structure, identity and pride but he was now 'no longer the same man' as every aspect of his life had been affected. Mr Lee said his family had also suffered as they were looking at a person who had 'faded into someone unrecognisable.' 'The emotional toll is impossible to fully explain,' he added. He described the assault as not a momentary injury but 'a permanent turning point in my life.' Mr Lee urged Judge John Martin for any sentence to reflect the seriousness of Gorecki's offending which had 'taken the remaining years of my life.' Pleading for leniency, Mr Kavanagh said Gorecki came from a relatively poor background and had suffered a lot of tragedy. The court heard his father died when he was very young, while his mother died last year and a brother was killed in a motorcycle accident in Ireland a few years ago. Mr Kavanagh said the defendant had also expressed remorse and shame for what he described as a 'one-off incident.' He said Gorecki was assessed as being at a moderate risk of reoffending which he believed was linked to his difficulty in finding employment. However, Mr Kavanagh said the accused had recently received the offer of a job at Arklow Golf Club. The barrister said Gorecki had also reduced his alcohol intake and had not committed any other offences since 2023. While not seeking to blame Mr Lee for what happened, Mr Kavanagh said the bouncer had stood 'toe to toe' with the accused and spoke into their faces. Sentencing Gorecki to three and a half years in prison for the assault offence, Judge Martin suspended the final six months for a period of 12 months on condition that the accused place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service on his release from prison for two years and remain free of alcohol for that period. The judge observed that the accused had only demonstrated partial responsibility for an offence that was 'quick and drink-fuelled' but whose effects were 'lasting and very significant.' He said Mr Lee had suffered most horrific injuries in an attack where Gorecki had delivered 'the first and last blow.' The judge noted that the defendant had only entered guilty pleas after a jury had been sworn in to hear his trial. He also took into account that Gorecki had made no concrete expression of remorse or any offer to make amends. The judge offered his best wishes to Mr Lee and expressed hope that the finalisation of the case would bring him some closure. Sign up to the Irish Mirror's Courts and Crime newsletter here and get breaking crime updates and news from the courts direct to your inbox.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Bouncer ‘no longer the same' after violent assault by men he barred from Wicklow hotel
Mateusz Gorecki (31), of Ferrybank, Arklow, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Paul Lee. An off-duty bouncer who was violently attacked by two men whom he had previously barred from a hotel in Arklow is 'no longer the same man' after being forced into early retirement due to the severity of his injuries. A Polish national who attacked the victim near his workplace while he was off-duty on Christmas Eve five years ago was sentenced to three years in prison for the attack. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim had suffered serious facial injuries after being struck in the head with a bottle on Main Street, Arklow on December 24, 2019. Mateusz Gorecki (31), of Ferrybank, Arklow, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Paul Lee, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act 1997. The unemployed male, who has been living in Ireland for 14 years, also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of production of an article capable of inflicting serious injury on the same date. Garda Emmet Furlong gave evidence that the injured man was sitting in his car outside the Royal Hotel on Main Street, Arklow at around 10pm on Christmas Eve five years ago to collect his partner from work. A suitcase in a luxury hotel room News in 90 Seconds - July 25th Garda Furlong said Mr Lee saw Gorecki and another male, with whom he had interactions in the past in his role as a bouncer at the hotel. The witness said the two men had been barred from the premises by Mr Lee as a result of a previous incident. He told the court that Mr Lee felt the two men, one of whom seemed to have a bottle in his hand, were glaring at him before they walked up and down past his vehicle on the other side of the road. Garda Furlong told prosecution counsel, James Kelly, BL that the bouncer got out of his car to go to speak to the pair. Video footage of the incident was played in court which showed that Gorecki attempted to hit Mr Lee before throwing a bottle at his head. The accused's companion had punched and kicked the victim between the two actions by Gorecki. The court heard that Mr Lee was referred to three different hospitals over the Christmas holiday period for treatment for his injuries. Garda Furlong said the victim suffered fractures to his skull, eye socket and cheekbone and required surgery to implant three plates in his face. He told Mr Kelly that Gorecki was 'nonplussed' by what happened when arrested and claimed he had not thrownOff a bottle. The witness said the accused was still of the view that the bottle had not hit Mr Lee, despite the video evidence. The court heard that Gorecki had no previous convictions at the time of the assault on the bouncer but had subsequently been convicted of two public order offences for being intoxicated in a public place. Asked under cross-examination by defence counsel, Feargal Kavanagh SC, who was the principal protagonist in the assault, Garda Furlong said Gorecki caused the most damage but his accomplice, who received an 18-month prison sentence for his role, was 'more of a leader.' The court heard Gorecki had been drinking at a party in his sister's house in Arklow earlier on Christmas Eve. In a victim impact statement, which was read on his behalf by his son, Mr Lee (54) said he had been a proud, hard-working man before the attack but had been forced into early retirement by an act of unprovoked violence. He told the court that the assault had not just caused him the normal physical agony but had devastated his life entirely. Mr Lee said the psychological effects were 'insidious and even more profound' and he had suffered chronic and persistent damage. The court heard he suffers from seizures and 'insufferable headaches' as well as blurred vision and post-traumatic stress disorder. 'I do not recognise myself,' said Mr Lee. He claimed that work provided him with structure, identity and pride but he was now 'no longer the same man' as every aspect of his life had been affected. Mr Lee said his family had also suffered as they were looking at a person who had 'faded into someone unrecognisable.' 'The emotional toll is impossible to fully explain,' he added. He described the assault as not a momentary injury but 'a permanent turning point in my life.' Mr Lee urged Judge John Martin for any sentence to reflect the seriousness of Gorecki's offending which had 'taken the remaining years of my life.' Pleading for leniency, Mr Kavanagh said Gorecki came from a relatively poor background and had suffered a lot of tragedy. The court heard his father died when he was very young, while his mother died last year and a brother was killed in a motorcycle accident in Ireland a few years ago. Mr Kavanagh said the defendant had also expressed remorse and shame for what he described as a 'one-off incident.' He said Gorecki was assessed as being at a moderate risk of reoffending which he believed was linked to his difficulty in finding employment. However, Mr Kavanagh said the accused had recently received the offer of a job at Arklow Golf Club. The barrister said Gorecki had also reduced his alcohol intake and had not committed any other offences since 2023. While not seeking to blame Mr Lee for what happened, Mr Kavanagh said the bouncer had stood 'toe to toe' with the accused and spoke into their faces. Sentencing Gorecki to three and a half years in prison for the assault offence, Judge Martin suspended the final six months for a period of 12 months on condition that the accused place himself under the supervision of the Probation Service on his release from prison for two years and remain free of alcohol for that period. The judge observed that the accused had only demonstrated partial responsibility for an offence that was 'quick and drink-fuelled' but whose effects were 'lasting and very significant.' He said Mr Lee had suffered most horrific injuries in an attack where Gorecki had delivered 'the first and last blow.' The judge noted that the defendant had only entered guilty pleas after a jury had been sworn in to hear his trial. He also took into account that Gorecki had made no concrete expression of remorse or any offer to make amends. The judge offered his best wishes to Mr Lee and expressed hope that the finalisation of the case would bring him some closure.
