In recent years Michael Kelly had declared that he had turned his back on his criminal past and was trying to rebuild his life, writes Karl Hanlon.
The former Limerick alderman, Mr Michael Kelly, is a controversial and colourful character who has rarely been out of the headlines in recent years.
He has some 38 previous convictions and has served a total of 12 years in prison for a variety of criminal offences including serious assault.
However, in recent years he had declared that he had turned his back on his criminal past and was trying to rebuild his life.
In 1995 RTÉ screened a documentary entitled The Hard Man, featuring frank interviews with Mr Kelly about his life in crime before his self-proclaimed change of ways.
In 1999 he turned his attentions to politics and topped the poll in the local elections, making him an alderman in Limerick's Ward 3. During his stint at the City Hall, he was vocal on matters about his native Southill and outspoken on issues ranging from single mothers to litter to housing conditions.
However, during his time in office he still courted controversy and he was the subject of a number of lengthy investigations by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
He was released from prison just two weeks ago, having completed a six-month sentence following a conviction for tax and social welfare fraud. The conviction related to offences in the family security business which he ran with his brother, Anthony.
In court he had claimed that he was the victim of an elaborate "conspiracy" between members of the Criminal Assets Bureau and Limerick gardaí.
On his release from prison, it was clear that Mr Kelly was a shadow of his former self. He had lost a lot of weight and had been plagued by health problems. He was immediately admitted to hospital in Limerick where he was treated for an ongoing heart condition.
In recent years Mr Kelly's finances had taken a severe battering, notably when his wife, Majella, was served with a legal bill of around €70,000 after a failed private prosecution taken against Det Insp Jim Browne. She alleged that Insp Browne had sexually assaulted her in August 2001.
The president of the District Court, Judge Peter Smithwick, described the allegation as "an evil conspiracy" and awarded costs to Insp Browne.
Mr Kelly's relations with Limerick gardaí were also soured after he attempted to broker a peace deal between feuding families on the south side of the city.
Gardaí were critical of his involvement in the deals, claiming the arrangements were only designed to hinder serious prosecutions against certain individuals.