The gangland rules of silence have finally been broken by those prepared to speak out, the Bishop of Limerick has said.
Speaking at Mass in Limerick at the weekend, Bishop Brendan Leahy paid tribute to the witnesses involved in the trial of John Dundon, who was jailed for life at the Special Criminal Court last week for the murder of Shane Geoghegan.
Dundon is the second person to be convicted of murdering the 28-year-old rugby player, who was shot dead in a case of mistaken identity on November 9th, 2008.
Last year, gunman Barry Doyle, who was ordered by Dundon to carry out the hit, was jailed for life for murdering the innocent Garryowen rugby player.
During his homily at St Mary’s Church, Bishop Leahy told Mass-goers that Limerick could take solace from last week’s “triumph over gangland evil”.
"The publicity around this trial reminded us again of the horrible spectre of gang rivalry and crime. We heard of criminality that was lurking all around us in various parts of this city at that time," Bishop Leahy said.
'Horribly evil'
“Thankfully the gangland rules of ‘silence’ have been overturned by those prepared to speak words of truth and to work for truth and justice. Tribute has been paid to the Garda, the legal system, the judiciary, and the witnesses for their part in getting us to this point of being able to successfully stand up to criminal behaviour and say: ‘Enough, no more, this is horribly evil; it is not worthy of the dignity of our city’.”
The city’s new bishop said the verdict from the Special Criminal Court had allowed Limerick an opportunity to draw a line in the sand and build on its great potential.
“We can take solace in the significance of the triumph over gangland evil because it has helped us draw a line in the sand regarding a particularly insidious threat to us all and build upon the great potential of our city,” he added.
"And we pray that now this line has been drawn, that those who would heretofore have stayed on the dark side will cross over into the light. We pray that the great work of recent years in cutting through the evil web of crime in our city is not undone and that Limerick continues to flourish – for all its people."
'Example of hope'
Bishop Leahy, who was ordained in April, also revealed that following his appointment, he was often irritated by comments about his new home.
He said “criminal violence and social problems have been part of this city’s story”, but added “they are only part of the story”. He said Limerick had been given a significant signal that it could start again.
“This city can, and is being given a new name, a positive name, a hopeful name. A name it deserves so that in the future, while the scars of our city’s history will remain, we will have gone beyond the wounds of fear and gangland terror, of dark and troubled socio-economic circumstances and divisions.
“In going beyond these wounds, we will learn from our troubles and so be able to help people in their troubles. If we take up this opportunity and build up a sanctuary-city, a people-city, then others will discover hope in us. Instead of being cited as an example of a city in despair, we will be cited as an example of hope.”