17 gun murders this year

THIS year has seen the lowest number of gun killings for three years in Ireland, but the prevalence of firearms was underlined last month when a motorcycle garda was shot after stopping a stolen car.

Seventeen people have been shot dead this year, less than half the total for last year when 27 people were shot dead. In 2005, 21 gun murders were recorded and only nine in 2004.

Some high-profile killings include:

On March 15 a hitman killed 25-year-old Robbie O’Hanlon shooting him three times in the head in front of more than a dozen witnesses as he finished a soccer match in Clondalkin.

A week later drug dealer Roy Coddington, 36, from Drogheda, was lured to his death on a Meath beach.

Father of two Noel Campion was shot dead on April 27 at Thomondgate in Limerick in a killing linked to a violent feud which has claimed eight lives.

Small-time drug dealer David Boogie Brett was gunned down on May 22 in north Cork.

Derek Duffy, 37, from St Attracta’s Road in Cabra, was shot in the head and set on fire as he sat in a car in Casement Park, Finglas on Sunday September 22.

On October 5 a hitman carried out the double murder in west Dublin of Brian Downes, 40, and 24-year-old Eddie Ward.