LIMERICK'S bloody gangland feud took another sinister turn yesterday when a well-known criminal was executed in an ambush.

The notorious Dundon-McCarthy gang are the prime suspects behind the murder of Noel Campion (35), who was shot dead in Limerick yesterday.

It is the eighth murder in the city's violent feud.

A pillion passenger on a motorbike, Campion died after he was shot numerous times by a gunman who emerged from a phone box at the junction of High Street and Inglewood Terrace in Thomondgate at 10.40am.

Collapsed

As shots were fired, the high-powered Suzuki crashed into a parked car.

The driver of the bike went into the windscreen while Campion attempted to run on foot, but he collapsed 15 yards away.

Campion was on the way to the district court, where he was due to appear for traffic offences, and had to drive down that road. The killers also knew he was due to attend court.

The gunman lying in wait was wearing a red hoodie and was armed with a semi-automatic firearm. He ran from the scene to a waiting stolen silver Volkswagen Passat, which was found partially burnt a short time later in the Dalgish Park area of Moyross.

Forensic tests on the car, which was stolen in the Crecora area of west Limerick on April 10, could be crucial in catching the culprits.

The victim's brother, Gary Campion (23) of Pineview Gardens, Moyross, was charged last year with the murder of 'Fat' Frankie Ryan (21). Ryan was a well-known drug dealer for the Dundon-McCarthy gang.

A poem read out at the funeral of Ryan swore revenge on his killer.

Noel Campion was a married man from the Pineview Gardens, Moyross, and leaves behind three children. He was regarded as a serious criminal. In 1999, he received a 14-year sentence with six years suspended for the armed robbery of a petrol station. He was jailed again for six months for a public-order offence and was released recently.

A poem read out at the funeral of 'Fat' Frankie Ryan swore revenge on his killer

Earlier this month, he appeared in the local district court and splashed out €4,000 to recover four of six horses seized in Moyross.

Investigators are keen to speak to anyone who saw the stolen car, with registration plate 98-G-2575, make its getaway. "We are satisfied that this car was parked in Canon Breen Park just before the shooting and had a rear bumper missing," said Supt John Kerin. "It went along New Road, Quarry Road, Ballynanty Road, Moylish Avenue, before ending up in Dalgish Park in Moyross. An attempt was made to burn the car out around 1pm."

After finding bullet shells at the murder scene, officers believe the sole gunman was armed with a semi-automatic firearm, but they are awaiting the results of a forensic examination.

Officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries and a technical examination of the phone box from which they believe the gunman emerged.

Armed gardai were patrolling flash-point areas of Limerick last night amid fears of a retaliation attack.

Barry Duggan

Bloodshed in decade of violent conflict

LIMERICK'S bloody gangland feud has already claimed eight lives.

The notorious Keane-Collopy and Dundon-McCarthy-Ryan gangs have been vying for control of a lucrative drugs trade in the area for almost a decade.

The feud began when Jack Collopy, from St Mary's Park, was viciously assaulted by the late John Ryan. Ryan, who was shot dead while working on a patio in July 2003, assaulted Collopy so badly that he suffered a mini-stroke and was put on a life-support machine.

The Keane gang, also from St Mary's Park, became embroiled in their neighbour's row when John Ryan's brother Eddie tried to shoot Christy Keane outside their children's school, but the gun jammed.

Previously, Kieran Keane and Eddie Ryan were close criminal allies, but they fell out over the proceeds of their crimes.

Kieran Keane shot Eddie Ryan dead in the Moose Bar on November 12, 2000, and the feud has escalated ever since. More than 75 criminals have been jailed and there have been countless shootings, bombs, arson attacks and drive-by shootings.

Weapons seized by gardai include AK-47s, rocket launchers and grenades. Criminal cases have been dropped amid fears of witness intimidation and gang members have been sent to the New York and Florida on gun-training courses.

Last year, five-year-old Jordan Crawford was shot in the leg during a drive-by shooting.

BARRY DUGGAN