LIMERICK PEOPLE will march in solidarity against gangland violence at a public rally due to take place tomorrow in memory of victims of crime in the city.
The event has been organised by the father of murdered local businessman Roy Collins who was shot dead exactly a month ago today.
The 35-year-old father of two was murdered on April 9th last at his business premises the Coin Castle Arcade located in the Roxboro Shopping Centre.
His father Steve Collins believes tomorrow's march will give local people an opportunity to demonstrate their unwillingness to tolerate criminal gangs operating in their city.
"People are sick of this. They haven't had a chance to stand up and be counted before. I hope this will be major and I hope people will come out and support it and show the way they feel," he said.
Mr Collins said his family would never get over the loss of Roy whose killing followed an attack on the murdered man's cousin Ryan Lee. Mr Lee, who was raised in the Collins family as an adopted son, was injured in a shooting at his father's pub in December 2004.
"We're never going to get over this they've ruined our lives," said Mr Collins. "They've destroyed my businesses, they've done everything they could to me now. They've taken my son, they've almost killed my other son.
"Nobody wants this life, nobody wants my life and that's why I'm urging people to support this because it could be you next."
Mr Collins said he was also hopeful tomorrow's event would help "push through" new legislation to deal with criminal gangs.
"There's been laws sitting on shelves for the last three years . . . and I just feel by doing something now we can bring them to the front and that they actually carry them through this time and the law is made law," he said.
Tomorrow's public rally will depart from Pery Square in Limerick city at 3pm, and finish at City Hall on Merchant's Quay where a number of speakers including Mayor John Gilligan and Bishop Donal Murray will address the crowds.
A minute's silence will be observed at the rally while a lone piper will also play.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea is due to attend the march along with Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell and Labour's Jan O'Sullivan TD.
Speaking about the event yesterday, Ms O'Sullivan praised Mr Collins' courage. "I think Steve is very brave to organise this and I think we all need to rally behind him in a show of solidarity. We need to show the very small number of people in Limerick who are causing this problem that we will not stand for this," she said.
"If we all stand together then I think that will show that these people have absolutely no part in our society."
Mayor John Gilligan said the march would allow ordinary decent people to make a statement against gangland criminals.
"This is not just a Limerick problem, this is a nationwide problem and as a nation, this is something that we all have to face up to," said Mr Gilligan.
Gardaí in Limerick were targeted while carrying out searches in a Limerick housing estate yesterday.
An unmarked patrol car was burnt out while detectives were executing a search warrant at a house on St Ita's Road in St Mary's Park.
Nobody was injured in the arson attack.