Dáil to debate city's gun gang feuds
The Government is to hold a full Dáil debate on Limerick’s feuding gun gangs on Thursday, it emerged tonight.
Opposition parties will demand increased funding and tougher laws to arrest and prosecute hardened criminals in the Midwest city.
Justice Minister Dermot Ahern acknowledged in the Dáil that there was nothing he could say to console the family of Shane Geoghegan who was gunned down at the weekend in a case of mistaken identity.
However, Mr Ahern reiterated that all the resources of the state will bring “the despicable cowards involved in this killing to justice.”
He added: “The reality is that the fight against those involved in gangland crime is going to be long and has to be waged relentlessly. We are absolutely determined that his murderers are caught and put behind bars.
“We cannot allow the evil deeds of a few to thwart the will of the vast majority.”
Earlier Opposition leader Enda Kenny said during Leaders’ Questions: “This is a war, Taoiseach, and a war you do not appear to be winning.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen agreed that the murder showed contempt for human life in the same way as previous killings of innocent victims of gangland warfare.
But he added: “It will be met with the full force of the law, within the law,” he said.
But Mr Kenny said to Mr Cowen: “We had the last sting of a dying wasp, we’ve had watersheds, we’ve had five years of zero tolerance. But nothing can bring back Shane Geoghegan.
“These people have no regard for human life, no regard for society, no regard for the Government, no regard for our democracy. It’s a war. Win it.”
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the killing was “shocking, tragic and the manner in which it was carried out was absolutely disgusting.”
He claimed that since 1998 a total of 161 murders in the state only yielded 22 convictions.
“That is a one in eight chance of being convicted of a gun murder in this country. Criminals get away with it because of the fear they instil in communities and potential witnesses.”
