GARDA COMMISSIONER Fachtna Murphy has said an attack by a 25-man gang last week against Limerick publican Steve Collins was of “great concern” but insisted gardaí would win the fight against Limerick’s drug gangs.
He said gardaí would continue to support Steve Collins, whose stepson Lee Ryan was shot five years ago, but survived, and whose son Roy Collins (34) was murdered at Easter. That killing is believed to be linked to Mr Ryan giving evidence against gang leader Wayne Dundon in 2005.
Mr Collins was further threatened last Tuesday afternoon that his son, Stephen (26), would be “next to get it”. His car was run at by a gang of about 25 men carrying sticks, chains and bottles, before he managed to speed away.
Mr Murphy said gardaí targeting gangland criminals in Limerick had also experienced intimidation.
“We will support Mr Collins. I was pleased to hear his comments in relation to the Garda, in relation to the assistance he’s been given and the security provided to himself and his family.”
His senior officers in Limerick were continually planning operations against gangland figures in the city. Many had been jailed and policing in Limerick had been very successful in that regard, he said.
Two people had been charged with recent high profile murders, those of Roy Collins and Shane Geoghegan.
There were more than 600 gardaí in Limerick, an increase of 100 in the past 18 months. Reinforcements were being brought in from Dublin and Cork when needed, along with specialist units.
He accepted “thugs” were now targeting the Collins family but said the State would prevail.
“An Garda Síochána will not lose the fight against organised criminality in this country; that’s our job, we’ve been doing it since 1922,” Mr Murphy said.
He was speaking at the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) in Killarney, Co Kerry.
Association president Michael O’Boyce, in his conference address to Mr Murphy, said the recent Garda recruitment freeze and higher retirement rates would put overworked gardaí under more pressure.
Mr O’Boyce told Mr Murphy his senior managers were “slaves to their own image” and promotion. Some were afraid to make a decision in case they make a mistake. This style of management was stifling the Garda, he said.
More gardaí were needed in rural areas and the public “rightly fear” organised gangs. Bail and temporary release should be tightened and mandatory 10-year sentences introduced for gun crime.
Mr Murphy said he was surprised to hear a call for more gardaí in rural Ireland given the rapid expansion of the force in recent years. He said pepper sprays were being purchased to help control street violence.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern had planned to address the conference but could not travel to Kerry because he was needed to help the Government carry a number of Dáil votes last night.
In his address, Mr O’Boyce said Garda numbers would now fall because of the “Government-induced economic crisis”.
