Capital's murder rate one of the highest in Europe
Dublin is on course to top the league for gun killings as gang crime spirals out of control, writes Jim Cusack
Dublin could top the league for gun killings as gang crime spirals out of control (Stock Image)
Sunday July 05 2009
In the space of a decade, Dublin has gone from having one of the lowest homicide rates of any European capital city to having possibly the highest, and certainly the highest for gang-related murders.
The extraordinary rate of gangland murders in the capital -- and Limerick -- has prompted Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to bring forward new legislation making it an offence punishable by up to life imprisonment to direct a criminal gang; moving organised crime trials to the Special Criminal Court; and allowing gardai to give hearsay evidence in court to the effect that they believe a person to be a leader or member of an organised gang.
The gardai have also increased raids on intermediate drug dealers in Dublin, raiding 120 homes and premises and arresting 70 people across the city on Thursday. Similar operations co-ordinated by the National Drugs Unit are expected to follow on a regular basis to break up the major drugs operations in the city.
Within the Dublin City Council boundaries, 11 men have been shot dead in gang-related feuding since the start of the year. Another four have been shot dead in gang feuds on the outskirts of the city and another two murdered in Spain and Amsterdam as a direct result of feuds in Dublin but only one in Limerick.
The 17 gun deaths in greater Dublin in the first six months of this year have surpassed the last "record" year of 16 gang murders for greater Dublin in 2006.
The city currently has a homicide rate of over two per 100,000, putting it high up the European homicide league, but still beneath Glasgow and the Baltic state capitals, where drunken stabbings and beatings are endemic.
Dublin will gain the dubious distinction of topping the league for gun murders if the current rate of around two to three a month keeps up.
A matter of concern for the minister has been the low clear-up rate in gang-related murders, which has been running at only around five per cent in the past 10 years. GANGLAND KILLINGS
The death list so far this year:
1. January 7 Drug dealer Michael 'Roly' Cronin, 35, a major drug trafficker from the north-inner city, was shot dead as he sat in a black Volvo sports car in Summerhill.
2. January 7 Cronin's driver, 26-year-old James Maloney, from Poppintree in Ballymun, was also shot in the attack and died in hospital two days later.
3. January 19 Stephen O'Halloran, 20, was shot in the head in Kilmartin Drive, Tallaght. Two of his friends also suffered gunshot wounds. Man charged on April 17.
4. January 20 Graham McNally, 35, from Cappagh Avenue in Finglas, was shot and dumped in wasteland off the Old Derry Road at Coldwinters near Ashbourne.
5. January 24 Richard Keogh, 30, originally from Carnlough Road, Cabra, shot dead outside a casino in Benalmadena, Spain.
6. February 9 Michael Hendrick, 36, from Clondalkin, shot dead as he sat in a car at Melrose Park in Clondalkin.
7. February 18 'Champagne' John Carroll shot dead as he drank in Grumpy Jack's public house in the Coombe, Dublin.
8. March 3 Michael Murray, 41, shot dead while out walking in Kippure Park in Finglas, close to his home.
9. March 12 27-year-old Shay O'Byrne shot dead outside his home at Tymon North Park in Tallaght. His girlfriend, Sharon Rattigan, tackled the gunman and was shot in the leg.
10. March 17 or thereabouts Liam 'Blackie' Murray, a 42-year-old car mechanic who associated with serious criminals, was found dead in his bed in Rockbrook Road in Rathfarnham. He had been shot four times.
11. March 30 The body of David 'Fred' Lynch discovered on wasteland near Belcamp Lane, Coolock. The 26-year-old drug dealer was shot four times in the head.
12. April 9 Roy Collins, 34, shot dead in Roxboro Shopping Centre, Limerick. A man has been charged.
13. May 7 John 'BJ' Clarke, 22, of Brookwood Abbey Apartments, Artane, multiple gunshots.
14. May 17 David Sharkey, 28, from Claremont Estate, Navan, found in boot of car at St Joseph's Park, Dunsink. Stephen Penrose charged on May 21.
15. May 28 Charles Sinapayen, 32, from Bordeaux, shotgun through window of Bray apartment. Declan Sheridan charged on June 10.
16. June 12 Maurice Martin, 21, found stabbed to death at the junction of Cardiffsbridge Road and Tolka Valley Park.
17. June 16 Paul Smith, 34, from Dunsink Lane, Finglas, shot. Body found at Ballough outside Balbriggan.
18. June 17 Thomas Joyce, 22, from Grove Lane, Coolock, was shot outside his house.
