Gangland figure on life support after self-shooting

A LIMERICK gangland figure who shot himself on Saturday remained on a life support machine last night.

It is thought it will only be a matter of time before the family of Philip Collopy decide to turn the machine off.

The 29-year-old criminal accidentally shot himself in the head at close range in the early hours of Saturday at a house party in Limerick city.

It’s thought he was showing off his semi-automatic handgun and did not realise there was still a round in his Glock pistol when he pulled the trigger.

He suffered severe brain damage in the blast and was rushed to the Mid Western Hospital in Limerick.

His condition was immediately described as critical. Doctors placed him on a life support machine, while the family awaited the return of his brothers, including family boss Brian Collopy, from abroad.

A hospital spokesperson confirmed yesterday he was still on the “critical list” at the intensive care unit.

The shooting happened at a party in St Mary’s Park estate in the Island Field area, an area controlled by the Keane-Collopy gang.

Detectives believe he was cleaning his weapon and joking around with friends.

He mistakenly thought there were no rounds inside when he pulled the trigger.

Garda sources yesterday said the gruesome act was captured on a mobile phone camera by one of the people at the party.

“The video captured it. He took a gun out and was messing, then click and bang,” said the garda.

He said the armed Garda Regional Support Unit, which was on patrol in the area, responded to the scene after a youth came out of the house screaming.

“A young fella ran out onto the street shouting ‘help us, help us’.”

The gardaí entered the house where they found Collopy’s slumped body.

Collopy is a senior figure in the Keane-Collopy gang and was jailed for two years for violent disorder in 2003.