THOSE RESPONSIBLE for the murder of Limerick businessman Roy Collins should be jailed for the rest of their lives, according to Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea.
The Minister also revealed yesterday that he was aware of a number of witnesses to serious criminal activity in Limerick who are too afraid to give evidence.
Mr O’Dea, who represents Limerick East in the Dáil, made his comments yesterday at the opening of a book of condolences for Mr Collins (35), who was shot dead in Limerick last week. Hundreds of people have already signed the book opened by mayor John Gilligan at Limerick City Hall yesterday. A book has also been opened at County Hall by the cathaoirleach, John Gallahue.
Gardaí believe the father of two was targeted because members of his family gave evidence in the trial of Limerick criminal Wayne Dundon, who was jailed for seven years for threatening to kill Mr Collins’s cousin Ryan Lee, who was shot at a family owned pub in December 2004.
Mr O’Dea said the people of Limerick were scandalised and stunned by the “sheer depravity and vindictiveness” of what happened to Mr Collins.
“There is a desire out there that the people responsible should be put away for the rest of their natural lives.
“For this type of killing, for this type of crime, for people with that level of depravity and that level of vindictiveness and that level of sheer mindlessness, I think it [a life sentence] should mean life. I don’t think those people should ever be out on the streets again.”
Expressions of public anger including “Enough is Enough” and “A Needless Death” accompanied some of the many messages of sympathy. Members of the Collins family also travelled to City Hall to sign the book there.
One man, who did not wish to be named, said he never thought he would be signing a second book of condolences so soon after the murder of Shane Geoghegan.
“I just came down here to show my sense of revulsion at the whole thing,” he said. “I also signed the book for Shane Geoghegan but I never thought I would be back here again so soon.”
Mr O’Dea said: “I want everybody in the region to sign the book of condolences to show where the people of Limerick stand and to show our sense of revulsion at what has happened and to show that we stand four square behind the forces of law and order in taking on this cancer in our midst.”
According to the Minister, the murder of Mr Collins had increased this level of fear among the public. “I have been told on quite a few occasions, up to and including quite recently, that people who would love to give evidence in certain cases are simply afraid to do so.”
He said this view was communicated to him at his clinics as late as last weekend.
“I don’t blame them for being afraid in the circumstances. I would urge everybody to do everything possible to co-operate with the guards to help put these people away, but I can quite understand people’s sense of fear, particularly in view of recent events.
“That is a gap in the system that we have to rectify and we are determined to rectify it,” he added.