Crime clean-up brings jobs to Limerick in local economic boom

Limerick, with its new ‘safe city’ labelling, is enjoying the fruits of a local economic boom as jobs’ successes replace crime headlines.

With gardaí firefighting gangland murders on the streets of the capital, colleagues in Limerick have put the lid on serious crime.

In 2007, at the height of a gangland feud in Limerick, 102 shootings were recorded. So far this year, the number of shooting incidents in Limerick was three, a mammoth decrease in gun crime.

While serious crime has seen a significant drop, employment has surged.

In the past two weeks alone, 560 new jobs have been announced on the back of the local council launching a €500 million development plan to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

Chief Superintendent David Sheahan, head of the Limerick Garda Division, said his team of dedicated crime fighters could be credited with helping create a safer city to attract inward investment.

“I’m under no illusion that the changing perception of Limerick has helped the business community economically. There is a link, I feel, between economic recovery and policing. I think we have played some part in that (recovery),” he said.

“There is a greater level of confidence in the city. I’m not taking all of the credit for that, but what gardaí have done to tackle crime here has helped. It’s a very positive sell-off for Limerick.”

IDA Mid West regional development manager, Niall O’Callaghan, applauded the work of gardaí, which he said has promoted renewed confidence in the city.

“Everything, from what type of city centre businesses we have — to socio-economic stuff, like crime, does play a part in the overall ambience of a city-centre. Investors ask us what is the city centre atmosphere like. Obviously, we are trying to build a profile of a city and a region that is an attractive place to live and work and do business — (a safe city) does play its part in that respect.”

Chief Supt Sheahan described how a local Garda unit, set up a year and a half ago to specifically target thieves and burglars, has helped reduce overall crime by 30%. Officers attached to the special unit, set up under Operation Disruption, are tasked with getting in the faces of known thieves, burglars, and suspects on bail.

“I make no bones about it, that’s the main focus of the officers involved. They work hours that are identified to us by our analysts. If the analysts are saying the crimes are happening between 6pm and midnight, then these officers work between 6pm and midnight. They are covering the critical times that we know the crimes are happening,” he said.

Gardaí have had major success against the gangs, most notably in dismantling the operations of the Dundon McCarthys — a gang responsible for the dozens of murders including those of two innocent citizens, Shane Geoghegan and Roy Collins. Gardaí have also clamped down on the activities of the three main other gangs, Ryan /McCarthys, Collopys, and Keanes.

Chief Supt Sheahan credited the Garda’s success with the people who live in the communities where the gangs once ruled without fear of recrimination. “Those are results that spring directly from our interaction with the community. Of all the places that I’ve worked in, there is a fabulous community spirit and ethos here, and we have stood by the community,” he said.

However, he warned, to relax the battle against serious crime “would be a fatal mistake”.