‘Sad day for democracy’ as Collins family driven from Limerick

The mayor of Limerick has described the departure of gangland crime victim Steve Collins and his family from the city, as a “sad day for Irish democracy”.

Mr Collins, his wife Carmel, sons and daughters — with their partners and children — left the country yesterday to an undisclosed location as part of a Garda relocation programme.

The family were forced to leave Ireland because of unrelenting threats by members of the gang behind the murder of Steve’s son, Roy, in 2009. The father of two was shot dead in his amusement arcade business, which he ran next to his father’s pub in Roxboro. He died in a pool of blood in his father’s arms.