Peace march protests violence

HUNDREDS of people took part in a candlelit peace march in Limerick last night to express their solidarity with the family of 34-year-old murdered nightclub security boss, Brian Fitzgerald.

The march was also dedicated to other families who have lost loved ones through violence. Brian was callously murdered near his home in Corbally on November 29.

Allen Meagher, one of the organisers, said it was a dignified and peaceful march by the people of the city who were horrified by Brian’s assassination as he was returning from work to his home in Corbally on November 29.

“Brian’s tragic death marks it out from other murders as it was a planned, premeditated murder carried out by a drug-dealing gang. Every family in Limerick has been affected and shocked by this murder and this march is an expression of solidarity with the Fitzgerald family and other families who have lost loved ones through violence.

“This is not a protest march, but a peaceful march by people to express their total rejection of violence,” said Mr Meagher, who is editor of a national community development magazine.

Members of the Fitzgerald family also took part in the march. Ger Fitzgerald, spokesman, said the family are “completely devastated”.

“Brian’s widow, Alice, and her two little sons, Aaron, 6, and Evan, 1, have been left without a father,” he said, “and we are fully supportive of this peaceful march for all families who have lost loved ones through violence. We need to stand up and be counted to demonstrate that violence will not be tolerated in the city. We have had enough of tragic deaths from violence in the city over the years and we need to make the public aware of that.”

He was joined at the march by his brother, Martin, and sisters, Susan McNamara and Breda Sheehan, and by members of St Mary’s Rugby Club where Brian Fitzgerald was a prominent member.

The Fitzgerald family paid tribute to the gardaí for their help and support and for keeping them informed in relation to the ongoing hunt for Brian’s killers.

Among the crowd marching for peace was Anne McCabe, widow of the late Det Garda Gerry McCabe, who was gunned down by the Provisional IRA during an aborted raid on a post office in Adare, in June 1996.

“I am taking part in the march to show that nothing can be achieved through the bomb and the bullet,” said Mrs McCabe. “Peace can only be achieved through dialogue.”

The march took place from Arthur’s Quay to City Hall. Mayor of Limerick John Cronin said the community at large were shocked and stunned by Brian Fitzgerald’s callous murder because he was doing his job.

“Just because the people of Limerick have been silent does not mean they accept or will accept the number of violent deaths in our city in recent years.

“We are very proud of Limerick, which is no worse than any other city or town in the country where violence is concerned,” said Mayor Cronin. “Unfortunately, we are living in a violent age and all right-thinking people utterly reject all forms of violence.”

He added that it was time the Government took notice of growing concerns about the increasing violence in our society and the type of weapons being used to carry out these shocking crimes.

“The time has come for immediate action to rid the city of these weapons,” Mr Cronin said.