A leader of the notorious McCarthy-Dundon crime gang has been charged with the murder of Roy Collins.

Two men are due in court today charged in connection with the murder of a man whose family have been relocated under witness protection.

The jailing of almost 60 key figures in Limerick’s notorious gangs, coupled with in-fighting among active gang members, has led to a significant decrease in crime in the city, according to a senior garda.

Many leaders of a prolific crime scene have been jailed, writes Jimmy Woulfe

Despite the deeply ominous appearance of masked and armed men in a funeral cortege on the streets of Dublin, with all that implies, there are welcome indications that An Garda Síochána are gaining the upper hand in the fight against organised crime.

A semi-automatic Glock pistol, believed to have been used to murder innocent businessman Roy Collins, has been recovered by gardaí.

Gardaí are investigating the discovery of eight pipe bombs in a housing estate in Limerick City yesterday afternoon.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said he regrets the Collins family have given up a life of 24-hour armed Garda protection for relocation outside Ireland.

TWO leading members of one of the country’s most notorious criminal gangs are to appear in court today on charges related to threats to kill a 23-year-old woman.

AS three major players in Limerick’s ongoing gang feud commenced long prison sentences in recent days following prosecutions at the Special Criminal Court and Limerick Circuit Court, a fourth gang figure left prison in England after serving five-and-a-half years for a gun offence.

TOMORROW marks the 10th anniversary of the murder which led to an all-out war between two Limerick feuding gangs.

MEMBERS of the regional armed support unit rushed to Limerick Courthouse yesterday after violence flared when a notorious McCarthy-Dundon gang leader assaulted controversial criminal solicitor, John Devane, as he spoke with a client in the court corridor.

Up to 100 garda officers launched a wave of dawn raids across Limerick today in a planned crackdown on the city’s feuding gangs.

THE home of a high-profile associate of Limerick’s McCarthy-Dundon gang came under attack early yesterday when it was raked by machine-gun fire.

IT is believed Limerick businessman Roy Collins was able to give vital information on his assailants as he lay dying to a detective who rushed to his aid.

TDs from all parties are due to make statements in the Dáil today expressing their revulsion at the murder of Shane Geoghegan in Limerick last weekend.

Gardaí have arrested a leading member of one of Limerick's feuding families on foot of a committal warrant.

A SPLIT has developed in one of Limerick’s feud gangs over moves to call a truce.

GARDAÍ in Limerick have foiled a contract killing in which a member of the McCarthy-Dundon gang was to be shot dead.

A VICIOUS attack carried out on a busy Limerick street yesterday afternoon was not feud-related, according to gardaí.

NEW fears emerged in the Limerick feud yesterday after reports of divisions within the McCarthy-Dundon gang over the decision by one of its leaders to order the murder of gang member James Cronin.

A GANG of roaming criminals are using the election to carry out daytime raids pretending to be canvassers.

A PUBLIC house security man was shot and wounded in Limerick last night.

LIMERICK’S notorious McCarthy-Dundon gang are suspected of carrying out the murder of Latvian Baiba Saulite as a favour for the leader of a non-national gang based in Dublin, the Irish Examiner has learned from well-informed sources.

A LIMERICK gang has brought in reinforcements from England while shootings continued yesterday in the latest flare-up in the city feud.