Limerick branded Europe's murder capital

Limerick has been branded the official murder capital of Europe.

The Sunday Independent claims the latest killings in the city have boosted crime figures giving it the highest homicide rate in Western Europe.

According to the latest CSO data, Limerick has a ratio of more than seven homicides per 100,000 population.

Glasgow in Scotland, which previously had the highest homicide rate in Western Europe, recorded just over 5 killings per 100,000 people.

Firearms are a major problem here, with gardaí seizing over 500 guns a year - that is 10 times more than they recovered from republicans during the Troubles.

In the past 10 years, the number of deaths as a result of gunshot wounds has risen fivefold.

Operation Anvil, which was set up in May 2005 has recovered almost 1500 firearms to date - most of these were seized in Dublin and Limerick.

However, despite the rise in gun crime a WHO study rates Ireland as the safest country in Europe.