One of Limerick's biggest drug dealers has been jailed for life for the murder of a man in a bar two years ago during a row over payment for cocaine.
Mark Crawford from Quarry Road, Thomondgate, Co Limerick, stabbed Patrick 'Pa' O'Connor several times in Fitzgerald's bar on 7 July 2018.
The 43-year-old, who has links with the McCarthy-Dundon organised crime group, apologised in court today for what he did, saying he never meant to kill the 24-year-old and regrets it every day.
Judge Tara Burns said the mix of alcohol, cocaine and knives has resulted in too many deaths in this country and "something has to be done".
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The O'Connor family from Limerick left the Central Criminal Court in Dublin saying although they got some justice, it will not bring their brother and son Patrick back.
Mr O'Connor, who was a qualified lifeguard and worked in Pallas Foods, was in his local bar on 7 July 2018.
He did not really know Mark Crawford, but that night a row broke out between them over drugs which led to his death.
Mr O'Connor felt he was "after getting burnt for €100 for cocaine". Crawford said he "owed him a oner". Mr O'Connor told him he did not have it.
Crawford stabbed Mr O'Connor six times in the heart, neck and arm. The 24-year-old died at the scene.
Crawford is known to gardaí as the biggest heroin dealer on the southside of Limerick.
He was recently caught with over €24,000 worth of the drug.
He apologised in court today for committing the murder, saying he thinks about it every day and is sorry for what he has done.
His brother Noel was shot dead in 2006 in a gangland murder, his five-year-old nephew Jordan was also shot in the leg. Both were cases of mistaken identity where gardaí believe the target was Mark's brother Paul.
Judge Tara Burns said even if she had discretion she would have no hesitation in imposing on Mark Crawford the mandatory term of life in prison for the murder.
She also said the madness fuelled by drink, drugs and knives was an affliction on society which had resulted in too many deaths in this country and something had to be done.
