Gardaí have been unable to convince Limerick murder trial witness, Mr Owen Treacy, to join the State's witness protection programme, even though his life is now under threat.
Mr Treacy (31) was the State's key witness in the trial of the five men convicted on Saturday of the murder of his uncle, Kieran Keane (36). They were given life sentences.
Despite the fact almost 30 of Limerick's feuding criminals are now in prison, sources say further bloodshed is expected in the city as those close to the convicted men seek revenge.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, told The Irish Times yesterday that while Mr Treacy was eligible to join the witness protection programme, no one could be forced to join it. The programme entails the protected witness and his family being uprooted from their community and being relocated, normally outside the State.
Mr McDowell stressed a life sentence would involve the five convicted men serving a considerable period in jail and there would be no question of being eligible for parole after seven or eight years.
He welcomed the conviction which, he said, vindicated the jury system. He said it proved that juries could and did convict people accused of gang-related crime.
Limerick's most senior garda, Chief Supt Gerry Kelly, said yesterday he feared for the safety of gardaí because long-range weapons had fallen into the hands of Limerick's gangs. "Whatever degree of control you have over short [-range weapons] you have none over those," he said.
The Limerick East TD and Minister of State for Justice, Mr Willie O'Dea, said yesterday criminal activity in Limerick had had a negative impact on inward investment and tourism in the city. He said good work carried out in Limerick was being undone by negative perceptions associated with media publicity around criminal incidents.
Meanwhile, Mr Treacy broke down outside the Central Criminal Court following the guilty verdicts on Saturday night. "They got what they deserved, justice has been done," he told The Irish Times. He was stabbed 17 times during the attack in January which claimed his uncle's life.
As he was taken from the court, one of the five murderers, James McCarthy (24) of Delmege Rd, Moyross, told him: "You will be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life." Anthony McCarthy (21), Fairgreen, Garryowen, warned Treacy and his supporters: "For every action there's a reaction."
The McCarthys; Desmond Dundon (20), Hyde Road; David Stanners (31) Pineview Gardens, Moyross; and Christopher Costelloe (20), Moylish Avenue, Ballynanty, were sentenced to life for Keane's murder. They will be sentenced on the other three indictments on February 3rd in Limerick before Mr Justice Carney. Leave to appeal will be considered at that stage.
The case was transferred from Limerick to Dublin following difficulties in empanelling a jury. The jury deliberated for more than 15 hours before finally delivering its guilty verdicts.