ONE of the country’s most notorious gangland killers is getting temporary release from prison amid claims he could soon be back walking the streets of Limerick.
Christopher ‘Smokey’ Costello, 42, a member of the McCarthy-Dundon gang, is currently serving a life sentence at Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow for the murder of rival gang boss Kieran Keane in Limerick in 2003.
He was moved to the open prison last year from the Midlands in Co Laois and he has been getting temporary release to get him prepared for full release ever since.
A source said Costello often gets out on temporary release and likes to spend his time looking around local shops in nearby Arklow town.
The source said: “Costello has been getting out quite a lot on temporary release. He likes to go and have a look around the local shops.
“He’s allowed out unsupervised and he’s trusted to return to the prison of his own accord.
“I’m sure members of the public who are out doing their weekly shopping have no idea who he is but would be no doubt shocked to find out.
“The fact he is getting out on temporary release on a regular basis is a sign that he could get full release soon.
“He was working with horses for a while outside the prison too but gave it up as it was too much like actual work for him.”
Costello, along with four other men, were convicted 22-years-ago of the brutal murder of Kieran Keane as well as the attempted murder of his nephew Owen Treacy, at Drombana, Co Limerick, on January 29, 2003.
‘Smokey’ Costello was jailed along with Anthony ‘Noddy’ McCarthy, Dessie Dundon, the now deceased David ‘Frog Eyes’ Stanners and James McCarthy for the Keane murder.
The 36-year-old was the brother of the leader of Limerick’s feuding gangs, Christy Keane.
They were also handed 15 years for the attempted murder of Owen Treacy and seven years for false imprisonment of both men.
Keane was found shot dead with his hands tied behind his back and his body was dumped on a country road.
While Tracey was stabbed 17 times in the frenzied attack but survived and became the chief prosecution witness in the case.
‘Smokey’ Costello had been serving his sentence at the Midlands Prison in Co Laois but was transferred to the open prison last May.
The source added there is no date yet set for his full release.
INMATE FOUND DEAD
Last August, friends of Costello attended the funeral of his father Christopher Costello Snr including well-known gangland figures Kieran ‘Rashers’ Ryan and ‘Fat’ John McCarthy.
In October 2023, one of the five sentenced for the murder of Kieran Keane, David ‘Frog Eyes’ Stanners, 51, was found dead in his cell at Mountjoy Prison.
The Limerick feud, began in 2000 when criminals Christy Keane and his close ally Eddie Ryan fell out.
It is believed to have been the catalyst with Keane being approached by Ryan while sitting in a parked car outside a school waiting for one of his two children.
Ryan produced a gun which jammed.
Just two nights later there was a reprisal when Ryan was shot dead while drinking in a bar.
As the feud between the two developed, Ryan’s associates formed allegiance with the McCarthy-Dundon faction while Keane joined forces with the Collopys.
