Crime gangs ‘a bigger threat than IRA were’

Criminal gangs are a “bigger threat” to the security of the state than the IRA or any other terrorist group ever were, a former Garda chief said yesterday.

Martin Donnellan, one of the country’s most well- known detectives, said there was a great danger a garda or an innocent member of the public would be killed because of the firepower now available to gangs.

A former assistant commissioner, Mr Donnellan described Steve Collins, who was forced to leave Limerick at the weekend under the Garda protection programme, as very brave.