Gangland murder accused seeking to work as repair man going into people's homes
A man accused of the murder of Kevin Conway in west Belfast as part of a cycle of reprisals over gangland killings is seeking to change his bail conditions to allow him to work as a repair man going into people’s homes, the High Court heard today.
Prosecutors also revealed that parts of one gun used in the shooting were used in a subsequent dissident republican attempt to assassinate taxi driver Sean O’Reilly.
Details emerged as a man charged with the murder of Mr Conway mounted a bid to lift the ban on him driving any vehicles.
Aidan O’Keefe, 29, is currently on bail facing prosecution for his alleged role in the killing carried out during the underworld feud.
Mr Conway, 26, was shot dead at his home in Rossnareen Park on January 9, 2024. He had been associated with notorious criminal organisation The Firm and was awaiting trial for the murder of Shane Whitla in Lurgan, Co Armagh 12 months previously.
The killers are believed to have entered his flat and opened fire with a shotgun and a pistol minutes after he messaged to friend to say he was relaxing by playing a games console.
O’Keefe and co-accused Fergal Kane, 55, have been charged with the murder as part of a joint enterprise. Both men’s addresses in Belfast cannot be reported due to the risk of any attack on them.
Prosecutors claimed the two defendants travelled in convoy by van and car to the scene of the killing. They are connected by CCTV evidence, a vehicle tracking device and registration plate sightings on the night of the murder, it was alleged.
Previous courts also heard a shotgun cartridge was discovered inside O’Keefe’s work van, and he is suspected of making Google searches about one-way flights to America in the aftermath of the fatal attack.
He was initially granted High Court bail in October 2024, but detained in December 2025 for allegedly breaching the terms of his release.
Crown counsel said O’Keefe had more than one permitted mobile phone and was stopped in a car registered to another man facing terrorism charges.
In January this year he was released again but only allowed to travel as a passenger in any private motor vehicle.
O’Keefe sought to vary those conditions so that he could take up employment as a repair worker.
But the prosecution suggested the job may involve going into customers’ homes across Northern Ireland while facing charges linked to a deadly dispute.
“This murder was part of a cycle of reprisals and gangland killings,” counsel submitted.
Madam Justice McBride was also told of a possible link to dissident republican organisations, and to a separate bid to kill Mr O’Reilly just over a year later.
The 49-year-old was seriously wounded when gunmen opened fire on him at a cab firm on Bell Steel Manor, west Belfast.
“Parts of the handgun which were used in (the Kevin Conway) murder were linked to the subsequent attempted murder of Mr Sean O’Reilly in February 2025, which itself was part of an Oglaigh na hEireann feud,” counsel disclosed.
O’Keefe is not accused of any involvement in the later attack on the taxi driver.
Opposing the bail variation, however, counsel asked: “Bearing in mind the reprisal nature of the alleged offence, will customers be advised of the risks before he works for them?”
Defence barrister Michael Forde argued O’Keefe has a legitimate offer of employment and only had to seek permission because of the driving requirements.
Adjourning the application, Madam Justice McBride indicated she wanted to know more about the employer’s views.
She added: “This man would be going into the homes of people (for) repair works. What checks did the employer do in terms of those they employ?”