The family of Limerick publican Steve Collins, who left Ireland last March under the witness protection programme to escape continued threats from a criminal gang, returned home for a brief visit in recent days to celebrate a wedding.
The Collins family said they had had no option but to emigrate because they were living under the constant threat of attack by the McCarthy-Dundon gang.
Mr Collins’s son, Roy, was 34 when he was shot dead in his casino in April 2009, four years after members of his family testified against Wayne Dundon. Following this, the family was under 24-hour Garda protection.
The family returned to Limerick last weekend for the marriage of Steve Collins jnr and his partner Ciara Clancy. The wedding took place last Saturday at Monaleen Church in Limerick and the 170 guests travelled to Ballykisteen in Co Tipperary afterwards for the reception.
One of the guests described the wedding as “mainly a joyous occasion” but said there were a few tears when Roy Collins was remembered. The ceremony was celebrated by Msgr Dan Neenan and Fr Tom Carroll.
“It was a really lovely occasion. Leanne, sister to the groom was a bridesmaid and Fr Neenan spoke beautifully and described the Collins family as remarkable people and the pride of Limerick,” one of the guest told the Limerick Leader newspaper.