Campion murder may have been gang related
Shocked morning shoppers dived for cover as Noel Campion, 35, was shot dead at Thomondgate near the Treaty Stone.
He was riding pillion on Suzuki motorbike when a gunman opened fire in what gardaí say was a well planned ambush.
Campion, a married father of three from Moyross, had a criminal record.
The dead man’s brother Garry Campion has been charged with the murder of ‘Fat Frankie’ Ryan on September 17 last and with the murder of security man Brian Fitzgerald in November 2002.
Gardaí suspect yesterday’s attack may have been planned as revenge for the murder of 20-year-old ‘Fat Frankie’ Ryan.
Superintendent John Kerin, who is heading the murder hunt, said as the motorbike approached a junction at High Road, Thomondgate a gunman ran out and started firing. He may have been hiding in a public phone box as the motorbike approached.
The driver of the bike and Mr Campion were thrown from the machine as they tried to dodge the gunfire.
Mr Campion fell mortally wounded about 10 yards from where the motorbike crashed into a parked car. The driver of the bike, who has not been named, escaped unhurt.
Mr Campion was taken to St John’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mr Kerin said the gunman, wearing a red hoodie, ran to nearby Canon Breen Park after the shooting, where a getaway car, a stolen silver Passat, was waiting.
“This car was later found in Delmege Park, Moyross where a failed attempt was made to burn it out. It was stolen in Crecora and it’s registration is 98 G 2575.”
The car was last night being forensically examined and gardaí feel it may yield valuable clues.
Campion served nine years for his part in an armed robbery at the Nemo Oil Depot in 1998. In that incident there was a shoot-out, when a number of raiders were confronted by armed gardaí as they tried to leave the depot yard. He has a number of other convictions.
His brother Willie is currently serving life for the murder of Paudge Skehan in Clare.
Mr Skehan was brutally attacked and was found hanging by his feet from the banister in his house.
One local man living just 10 yards from yesterday’s shooting said: “I heard about six shots. I ran upstairs and looked out. A woman was standing and screaming crying over a man on the ground who had a helmet on. He was lying still on the ground.”
Many elderly people were walking to the nearby post office to collect pensions when the killer struck.
One said: “It’s really bad. God save us.”
Another local woman said: “I was out the back putting out clothes on the line when I heard bangs.
“I thought - to be honest with you - it might be the bin lorry.
“But then I heard all the sirens. When I came out the front I was shocked.
“Shooting in broad day light.”
Local Fine Gael councillor Kevin Kiely said: “It is disgraceful that people are intent on just going around taking the law into their own hands shooting people in broad day light.”
State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy last night completed a postmortem on Mr Campion.
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