Spate of murders - Disregard for life must be tackled

THE latest murder this weekend brings to eight the number of people shot in cold blood in the past eight weeks.

One of those was in Sligo, while the other seven were in the Dublin area. Although gangland killings have been attracting most attention, many of the latest murders seem to have been of a personal nature in which old scores are being settled.

These have apparently not been connected with organised crime, but have been the result of a distinct cheapening in the value of life.