THE PEOPLE of Limerick need to send a strong message to criminals that they will not tolerate gangland violence, the city’s mayor has said.
Speaking at the unveiling of a plaque in memory of businessman Roy Collins, who was shot on April 9th last year, Cllr Kevin Kiely said: “As we try to improve the city for the people who live and visit here, the support to our local gardaí from the Emergency Response Unit in the coming weeks will be crucial in this battle against organised crime.”
Mr Collins’s father, Steve Collins, said his family would never have closure until all of those responsible for his son’s brutal killing were brought to justice.
The ceremony took place outside the amusement arcade at Roxboro Shopping Centre in Limerick where his son was murdered.
Large crowds attended the ceremony to support the Collins family who have campaigned for new laws to tackle gangland criminals since their son’s murder.
Last week, following a meeting with Steve Collins in Dublin, Garda commissioner Fachtna Murphy announced the deployment of the Emergency Response Unit in Limerick.
Mr Murphy said upcoming high-profile murder trials and “difficult times” for Limerick over the coming weeks had prompted the decision to deploy the specialist armed unit.
“The first anniversary is always going to be the hardest, but there will never be closure for us until the whole lot of them that were involved are brought to justice,” said Mr Collins yesterday.
Former mayor of Limerick Cllr John Gilligan, who last year joined 5,000 people for a march against violence in Limerick, echoed these remarks. “It is not simply the person who pulls the trigger that we want; we want the cretins that point the finger. These are the people that have to go.”
Former minister for defence Willie O’Dea said he was present at yesterday’s event to salute the Collins family for the courage and fortitude they have displayed in the face of the most “appalling intimidation”.
The Limerick East TD said he was confident that tough new anti-gangland legislation introduced following the murder of Roy Collins would be effective.
“The battle continues, make no mistake about that. The battle against gangland crime continues, and I can give you this assurance, society will win that battle; gangland isn’t going to win.”
Mr Collins urged anyone who reads the message on the plaque, which hangs on the main wall of Roxboro Shopping Centre, to “do the right thing”.
“The message is that the world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil but because of those who look on and do nothing,” said Mr Collins.
Before yesterday’s ceremony Roy Collins’s parents Steve and Carmel, brother’s Stephen, Paul, and Ryan, and sister Leanne were joined by hundreds of people at St John’s Cathedral for his first anniversary Mass.
During the ceremony curate Fr Leo McDonnell called on those involved in senseless violence to renounce their ways and prayed for all victims of violence.