CROWDS OF mourners will today gather for the funeral of Limerick businessman Roy Collins, who was shot dead in the city last week.
The 35-year-old father of two who was due to get married this summer will be laid to rest following 11am Mass at St John’s Cathedral in Limerick.
His heartbroken parents Carmel and Steve were last night comforted by scores of mourners who paid their respects at his removal.
Mr Collins is survived by his fiancee Melissa Crawford, his brothers Steve, Paul and Ryan, and his sister Leanne.
He also leaves behind his two young daughters Shannon (12) and Charlie (8).
Family friend Fr Sean Harmon will celebrate today’s funeral Mass at St John’s Cathedral which will be attended by members of Limerick City Council and Limerick’s mayor John Gilligan.
“The entire of Limerick City Council is united in their revulsion of what happened to Roy Collins and have expressed their intention to offer their condolences at his funeral,” Mr Gilligan said yesterday.
Last week Mr Gilligan described those responsible for the murder of Mr Collins as “wild animals” who had “stepped outside the bounds of humanity”.
Mr Collins was preparing to wed his fiancee this summer before a three-month trip to Thailand.
His removal left Cross’s funeral home in Limerick city last night for St John’s Cathedral and he will be buried l today at Kilmurray cemetery in Castletroy close to his family’s home in Monaleen.
He had been living in Killaloe in Co Clare before his death.
Speaking at the weekend about his son’s murder, Steve Collins described having to bury his eldest child as the “toughest thing he has ever had to do”.
“Something I never thought I’d be doing is burying one of my kids.
“It’s just not natural, no-one should have to bury their children but that’s just the value these people put on life now,” said Mr Collins.
Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea yesterday appealed to Limerick people to fully co-operate with the Garda in the investigation into the murder of Mr Collins.
“This is a horrendous crime and a threat to the State, literally,” said Mr O’Dea. “
We have no option but to go after these people, with no holds barred.”
Speaking in Dublin at the 1916 Easter Rising commemoration at the GPO, Mr O’Dea said that the Garda in Limerick had an outstanding record in solving gangland crime.
“I think this case will be no different,’’ he added.
He added that the Cabinet had approved covert surveillance legislation which would allow the Garda to plant devices to ascertain what criminals were doing and saying at all times.
He would be pressing to have it passed in the next Dáil session.
More crucially, he said, that evidence would be admissible in a court of law.