RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS:RESIDENTS IN Dooradoyle, Limerick, say they had feared for over a year that a murder would happen in their area, after their pleas to politicians, gardaí and the regeneration agencies fell on deaf ears.
Last November, a residents alliance was formed by residents of Ballinacurra, Caherdavin and Dooradoyle, who expressed concern that people who moved from the regeneration areas of Moyross and Southill into their estates "could spread the problem even further."
Their fears were realised last Sunday morning after Shane Geoghegan (28) was shot dead in Kilteragh, Dooradoyle.
Mr Geoghegan was said to have been mistaken for the intended killer's target, who had moved into the estate from another part of the city.
"We knew this was going to happen," a spokesman for one of the residents associations said.
"The criminal fraternity has now spread all the way into Co Limerick and people in every estate in Dooradoyle are frightened. These people have no respect for anybody, for kids, for property, nothing. They didn't respect the areas where they came from, why would they respect Dooradoyle."
Brendan Kenny, chief executive of the regeneration agencies, said they were aware that people had moved out of these areas into the suburbs before the regeneration scheme was launched, but they had no plans to disperse people throughout the city and county.
"We have no policy of relocation and can't rehouse people; our job is just to come up with a plan to rebuild these communities. The latest incident shows the size of the task ahead of us all."
After the residents alliance was formed, 66 letters were sent to politicians, gardaí and the regeneration agencies expressing their concerns.
According to the spokesman, however, the response was "dismal". Only four politicians replied and no reply was received from Henry Street Garda station.
"Only the council would lay out the plans for us." a spokesman for the residents ssaid.
Residents had also sought additional policing and were told an extra garda and one sergeant were allocated to the area but were based in Roxboro, not Dooradoyle.