March in memory of Shane Geoghegan

So angry about what happened last weekend. Sick of these low life scum bags running this city and dragging it's name through the gutter. As a Limerick person I've had enough. An innocent man's life has been taken so cheaply last weekend. There is no value on human life. How many more mistaken identity's is it going to take before the law can enable the guards to lock up these scum. People need to speak out against these low life's and work together. How long till these scumbags are living next door to the good people in limerick bringing all their hatred & evil with them. The sad thing is these scumbags are breeding and their hatred & violence is being passed onto their children. This has to stop before all the good people are ran out of this city. I didn't know Shane but I know many good people in the city like him and Yes, I will stand up and march. My heart goes out to his family, fiance & friends. As a Limerick citizen I've had enough...

I would be afraid to march up Hyde Road - what does that tell you? These people are fearless and remorseless. If its held in the city centre, thousands upon thousands of people will turn up from far & wide, given adequate notice. Go for it!

Following the minute silences observed in UL yesterday, the media has been contacting the organiser and asking if there is an event taking place at the weekend (see Ellen's post in the 'Shane Geoghegan Murder Further Updates thread). This event really needs proper organisation and a huge turnout and I agree with Norma, there's not enough time to organise it by saturday. What about the following saturday? I has to be still fresh in people's minds. Come on, if thousands of people can turn out on the streets of limerick to watch a game on a big screen, surely we can do this too.

yes of course half of limerick will be at the match on saturday, but regardless there was never enough time to hold this march by sat 15th anyway.....COME ON PEOPLE where are the suggestions? ideas? offers of help? access to media?.....so far a couple of days suggested, a couple of routes suggested....do you really think it only takes that much energy to effect change and represent the feelings expressed by the people contributing to this thread....or are we all going to become guilty of the apathy we have accused the government, legislators, judges, gardai of and in abundance, so will there be a march or are we all going to slink away?

Everyone at the Munster v New Zealand match should carry a poster saying WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH and hold them up during the minutes silence. Posters could be handed to people on the way In.
As for a march Yes it should go ahead but not when half of Limerick will be at the Ireland match.

I'd have to agree with you there norma st leger.

The key goals of this march, as far as i have interpreted are
1. that the death of shane geoghean is a watershed in the history of limerick and that he will never be forgotton
2. the people attending the march need to reflect not just the present mood but the future we wish to create, anything confrontational should be left to the gardai.
3. it is vital that the march is very well organised and that the turnout is massive, that government representatives are present, that it gets maximum publicity, tv,radio, newspapers.
4 .saturday 15th is no way enough time to organise something of which you need to create maximum impact, and routes, times speakers etc have to be decided beforehand.
this is a great forum for airing, views feelings etc, but there seems to be minimal uptake on an organised level for tactics which will create a better limerick, the worst thing that can happen is that all of us concerned and good people fall down on the organising and miss the opportunity for change, this march will only be a beginning, the change has to come with constant work for same.

Only a few days to go before weekend.
I suggest the moderators take a vote from the posters here,
on a choice of a few routes and whether Sat. or Sunday.

Sunday sounds way more practical to me. No traffic and people have time.
Once agree someone or everyone could inform the media.

Other than on this blog I have not read anything in the local on-line newspapers or on the local radio about a march in protest against crime.
I am sure if a protest was widely publicised it would be well attended.
At present only a few hundred read this blog - I think.

I write this as I am hoping a well attended peaceful protest will happen

Many Limerick rugby supporters will be in Dublin on Saturday for the All Blacks game.

The NY Mafia sounds good to me too take care of this problem. One by one they will disappear into thin air.

I also don't live in limerick any more, but a lot of my family do, I grew up in the 80's and 90's and never felt in real danger, this danger and murder has escalated quickly, if it's not stopped now how bad will it get? It's 'fight or flight' time. They won't go away on their own. Any one could have been in Shane's position that night, and no-one (except the dealers) should be hurt in this ludicrous reign of scum

Did shane have kids?

Mary if you feel so strong about the march why dont you come home and take part and make sure your own family does

I'm confused by this thread. Is there a march planned and if so, from where to where and how can it be publicised? People need to show up in their thousands for this for it to have any impact. Please keep the momentum going on this......

Lads,

if there is to be a march it has to be popularly supported and effective. Any weak attempts to get it going may fall flat on their face and it will create a bad impression if it is not well-supported.

The best thing would be to email the mayor and city councillors. They will take up the issue if there is a groundsell of support locally.

Regarding the time suggested (2pm, Saturday), bear in mind that a lot of people (including the rugby people who are the ones who would get behind this) will be in Dublin for the Ireland V New Zealand match. I suggest that Sunday would be better, or perhaps the following Saturday.

Squid,

There is no legal necessity in the Irish republic to inform the Gardai of the route of any march in advance.

Lads

I am watching this blog for the past few days and im confused with some of the comments.

Think about Shane and marching for him and him alone, communities standing up together and marching up Hyde road is not a bad idea at all.
TV coverage will show Ireland and Europe that you can all stand together.

You all need to make this as high profile as possible.

I live abroad so I can't attend the march but if I were there I would love to. I don't want to tell people what to do since I can't attend myself but DO THE IRISH PEOPLE WANT GANGS AND GUNS AND DRUGS? Certainly not - I don't live in Ireland but I certainly don't want my family living among bullets and gangland warfare - Pls get out there and act - take to the streets and demand action.
I was delighted to see that people took to the streets to protest against the budget cuts to medical cards and education.
Now pls get out there again - protest against the murder of innocent Shane and march in his memory and protest so that the government take action and do something other than talk and pass the buck.
Politicians unfortunately need to be pressurised to act as they should act - they have to pressurise these good-for-nothings - take their welfare and houses off them, crack down on them, put money so that they're under continuous survaillance, get foreign police forces working and advising - in every country there are criminals but it's not every country that has this problem to such a degree because they tackled the criminals in time. Pay foreign detectives and police forces to help bring about the necessary changes to the gardaí from the bottom to the top and more importantly from the top to the bottom. These people need to be rooted out and punished before the problem gets any worse. Unfortunately it's up to the people to join together - as someone wrote on another comment here - together the normal decent people form a larger and more powerful gang than these small murdering good-for-nothing small gangs.
People need to go out onto the street and march and march and march, otherwise nothing will be done. I truly wish poor Shane hadn't been murdered but as this has happened let his death at least serve some purpose. Safety is a human right - please everyone get out there and demand this and demand it consistently - it's no good having just one big march and then everything is forgotten. Pls go out onto the streets again and again - for Shane and for everyone.
How wonderful it would be for everyone to come together and defeat these gangs.
Can the march be extended to other cities - are there social groups that can organise simultaneous marches in Dublin, Cork,.....

Right, I'm too militant for here, it seems, encouraging a mass-solidarity-movement against the gangs that have destroyed the morale of this city. What was I thinking?

*Gone*

@brian

I think your direction of discussion should be continued by e-mail rather than on an open internet site.

You cannot decide tto change the route at the last minute. the Gardai have to be informed of what route you are taking before hand.

What put an end to the COCAD was when a few of the lads kicked a dealer/user to death. That was the end of it. And straight away Gilligans lads stepped into the void and got the drugs flowing again.

The route I suggested from Arthurs Quay via Hyde Park to Young Munster would have been a bit of a walk (all 1.98 miles of it) but it would have had the benefit of gathering up momentum along O'Connell Street, whereas a march from Perry Square would possibly be starting off with too few, initially. Plenty of parking at Arthurs Quay as well. Leaving from Arthurs Quay, you could decide by the time you're at Mallow Street whether or not there's enough of you to take it to Hyde Road, or else to go on down to Rossbrien Rd. and up to Young Munster. I would'nt suggest going to Hyde Rd. with any less than 200 protesters.

To solely show solidarity with Shane, people are going to the funeral, and on to Mungret. It will be huge. But I think the mood for protest is tackling the very thing that killed Shane. It would be a pity to waste a momentum, to dissappate it, it should be focused towards the people it is aimed at, the Keanes, Collopys, Ryans, McCarthys and Dundons.

I think the people of limerick are right in saying that the gardai in this city have no courage to stand up to these muppets destroying our city. even if the gardai find a suspect who is infact the murderer it will proably be about 2 years before he is actually sent to prison and even at that he will still only get on average 13 years and that is ridiculous. Any murderer no matter how accidental it may have been should get a minimum of 25 years. I did not know shane personally but from what i read he must of been a very nice popular guy. This murder comes at a time when it is 6 months since a friend of mine, Roman Vysochan was murdered at the age of 16 [Mod Edit ... comment removed as it is prejudicial to an ongoing case] The courts have got to be more hard on the murderers [mod edit ... removed for the above reason] even more sick to know that they can be given bail for doing such a crime.

I think the march is a great idea and the people of ireland so go to the highest level of protest to make sure any scum who commits a murder is locked away for good.

Rest in Peace Shane Geoghegan

The Concerned Parents Against Drugs (CPAD), and Coalition of Communities Against Drugs (COCAD) in North Inner-City Dublin in the 80's and 90's would be my inspiration. They went to the doors of the pushers every night, and, well... intimidated them out of the area. Unfortunately, there had been elements among these groups with a bit of a republican tone, and the groups were possibly hijacked by the Shinners.

i think a demo outside the residence of the scumbags is exactly whats in order! the anti drugs movement in dublin did this with sucess in running the scumbags out of their areas, that is until the gardai became embarrased at being shown up and put a stop to the movement by arresting members of the residents against drugs movment.

I removed the first two paragraphs of your post as they were more provocative than I would like to see in the comments. People suggesting that any demonstration pass the residence of the suspects in this killing are being a bit silly.

From what I gather it is to show solidarity with the victims and revultion of the crime, not to pick a fight with people. besides, the route you suggested would be a good stretch of the legs and would cause infinate traffic problems.

Re the update: perry square to Arthurs quay park or City hall might be a good route, city hall probably best, there is a courtyard in front of the building should any interested parties wish to speak.

[First two paragraphs removed. see my response below Squid]

If we left at 1pm from Arthurs' Quay we'd be at Young Munster by 1:45pm (at a walking pace). Speeches from local representitives, the president of Garryowen, etc., would be finished by 3pm, I guess.

It's a proposal. Work with it if you like. Remember to run it past the Garda Superintendent, Henry Street Garda Station, 061 212 400. You'll need his nod of approval to make sure that the traffic is diverted, etc.

I'm sure you won't have any problems getting the local representitives onto the podium, that's for sure. You won't be able to get the FF lads away from the mic. Ever since the pensioners medical-card, Fianna Fáil have wanted to court the middle-classes. Now that the McCarty-Dundon gang has encroached again into middle-class territory by killing Shane, this is as good an opportunity as any for them to pin their colours to the mast.

Anyway, whatever happens, hopefully we won't have to have many more marches, and hopefully we won't lose another of Limericks fine sons.

A New Limerick Pogram

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While it is to our great shame that we ran the Jewish traders out of our city a hundred years ago, the Limerick Pogram proved to be an effective mass-movement for change (albeit not a positive one).

In order to resolve the problem of crime in Limerick once and for all we all have to take a get-tough stance on all the channels of funds that feed these blackguards in Moyross and Southill.

If you see someone selling pirate CDs and DVDs in the market, overturn his stall, destroy his stock, run him out of the place. The guards will not be called against you, you're doing nothing wrong.

If you see someone snorting cocaine in the toilets of [Name of business removed] , sort them out. Tell the staff, tell your friends. Show that eejit that snorting a line of coke is the cause of Shane Geoghegan getting gunned down. That once-a-week drug taker may as well have pulled the trigger. Casual drug users are the ultimate consumers of what the Ryan and Keanes peddle.

I'm not suggesting that you lower yourselves to the tactics of beatings and murder, although it does seem an easier prospect.

Block them out of the dole-offices and post-offices when they go to collect their social-welfare cheques. Stage mass-pickets on their houses. It is your duty as civic-minded citizens to stand up together against these thugs, otherwise they will forever subjugate you and destroy the morale of this city.

We should not have waited this long, but we were happy so long as all of this remained in those estates. We didn't care, hoping that they'd eventually just kill themselves out of existance. Well, it's not turning out that way. A new breed of thug has grown with no concept of the value of life. They don't give a damn. They will kill the first person who tells them "no".

If an entire city tells them "no", "no more!" and runs them out of the city, I guess they will learn the message.

The Pograms of a hundred years ago are a great embarrassment to Limerick City. The Pograms of Moyross, the Island and Southill will stand as an outstanding achievement, so long as again, we don't take a life to do so.

I feel sorry for Shane, his family and friends. I feel angry towards the scum that did this but I feel sick at the people who continually allow this to go on. We'll hear the usual uncomfortable utterance from scumbag politicians trying to pass the buck for the next few weeks but unless the noise from the people of Limerick is maintained they will be just hoping this goes away from them ASAP.

I have a list of things I'd like to see change but alas I think its pointless discussing them. All the discussion in the past doesn't seem to have made the slightest bit of difference.

The only thing I can think of now is that people get together and turn up in large numbers outside local politicians doors and demand action. Let them know that we know who they are behind the soundbites and that we won't forget the next time they want something from us. Which to me seems like the only time the publics opinion shows up on their radar.

I cannot believe that this is happening in our city...that poor guy was an innocent person going about his business...I cannot imagine how his family are feeling or coping right now.
The people who carry out murder should get life in prison & life should mean life & not walking the streets after a couple of years with no respect for authority or anybody else.
Far too much money is spent of providing free legal aid for criminals....why should they get free legal aid when they do not seem to work at all as all their income comes from one form of crime or another.

These waring families who seem to have power over the city, get an invite to talk about the regeneration program and asked for their opinion!! Can you believe it? The State should be going after them for Tax evasion not honouring them with invitations and making them feel important, more important than the hard working people in the communities in which they live.
They seem to have loads of assets, fabulous cars and 4 x4s and money to burn. They rub shoulders with those that are in Public Office and it seems they are untouchable. Their selfish outlook on life is clearly inbred and the only way to hit them is by prosecuting them and sending them to jail, Hit them where it hurts THEM most, by confiscating their assets. Where is the Criminal Assets Bureau? We need you to come to Limerick and help the people of Limerick and at the same time the Finances of our sorry State.

Hyde Road.

A decent place, from where thousands of good people grew up and reared families in. People who have gone to the four corners of the earth with happy memories of growing up in a solid community.

A happy spot to have spent a childhood among friends and neighbours - a community where hard work was a virtue, where we had parents who thought us respect. Where sport and play occupied our days and harmless fun filled our nights. Where we learned to kick footballs and played rugby on grass and even on concrete under the lights! Filled with decent folk who have never forgotten their roots and still proudly recall those days.

A place I called home once and still see vividly in my dreams.....

Now it's very name sullied and dragged through the dirt by those murdering dirtbags and the Council that infested that entire neighbourhood with this vermin. Just like they're infesting every community now.

How I wish that march could reclaim Hyde Road for those now trapped in their homes every night. For those who have known the good days and must now live among Satan's' spawn there.

I wish.

It should go straight up Hyde Road.

Enough is enough. This has now gone too far.

It was disgusting when they were killing each other but now they are killing innocents. This has to stop. These people have no respect for life.

It is time that the people of Limerick stood up to be counted and stopped letting these animals destroy our home.

Just back from paying my respects to the family. What a sight, so sad to see a young man there, lying still and his grieving family numb around him. What do you say at a time like this? His Mam so composed and yet, devestated by what has happened to her beautiful young son. What did he do to deserve this she asked me? What could I say, only, he did nothing wrong. My answer was not good enough.
Neither is it good enought that our laws protect the scum. It's not good enough, is it?
To all of Shane's family and friends, my thoughts are with you in these most difficult times. Rest in Peace Shane.

I just glanced at Limerick Leader and Limerick Post on-line and there is no mention of any march. I'm sure a large section of the community would turn up if they knew about it.

The inaction of the government and our outdated judiciary are to blame for all of this. How many times have you read the papers to hear of cases that the gardai have brought to court being slapped on the wrists, fined and sent out to cause more mayhem!!

Our prisons are too soft.... they should get nothing but bread and water to eat and do what they do in the States, chain gangs out cleaning the streets! Prison should be so bad that when you leave it you never want to see the inside of one again, instead of wearing it as a badge of honour.

Someone in authority please listen and bring respect for life and others back onto our streets again.

Mossey the gardai didn't bother their arses to keep Irelands most violent animals under survelience. Thats not doing your job! Willie Keane classes their relations as upstanding citizens and they are as bad.
Laws and punishment have the share of the blame but so too have the keystone cops!!!
It's not like the didn't have clues,double murder last year guess who was involved in that. If they had them under survelience and found them armed or trying to shoot someone they would have at least an excuse to shot the bastar*s

You can't blame the gardai for this. Its the laws and punishment being handed down. Alot of the time the gardai have their hands tied. The judges and lawyers have alot to answer for in my opinion and the government have to make changes to the law.

@ Pat..."So, according to Willie O’Dea “Limerick Gardai have an excellent detection rate”. Who is he trying to fool!"

He's trying to fool us all, Pat. and I suppose he's been doing that for so long now, he probably thinks his usual blather and deliberate tut-tut-tut stuttering will suffice in this instance until the "fuss" dies down and he can get back to his one true concern. His re-election and double-quota aim.

Limerick Gardaí need to get out on the streets, even last night, as I came out of the Rail Station at Parnell Street there were hoodies and winos hanging around like flies, all intimidatory and for a first time visitor, a not very pleasant introduction to the city. People were being "approached" for money, the hoodies were shuffling about on their tackies looking up to no good. And to cap it all - a gang of up to eight youngfellas - all on unlit bikes and whooping like animals - careered through the traffic and pedestrians ignoring red lights and forcing cars and buses to brake suddenly as they weaved their way up to Hyde Road like a scumbag circus troupe.

Not one Garda or even a squad car appeared. there are two late-night shops in the vicinity. Both have been robbed in the past fortnight.

No wonder these little shits think they own the streets. What am I saying?......they do. And as long as we have such ineffectual government and a Judiciary more concerned with keeping the PC shower happy by cow-towing to smart-ass lawyers and ivory-tower civil libertarians, any chance this march has of reclaiming our streets will be short-lived.

I agree strongly that some action have to be taken for this son of Limerick!! Even if it does not result in immediate action - or none at all - it shows the scumbags that our gang is and always will be bigger and more united than theirs!! i am sick of talking and defending my city - its time we took to the streets - and demand not just this weekend but every weekend that we will not stand for murder of the innocent!!

I won't raise a family in this society and my God i want kids - - does that mean i have to leave Limerick?? It is damaging the good people that live in Limerick and preventing people from coming here!! So much for the good and hardwork put into Thomond Park - it has just been smashed back down by these few families --- It is a national discrace that they are getting away with this!!!

I don't know Shane or his family, but the anger i feel - he could be my brother- im standing by Shane!!!

Rest in Peace Shane

Geraldine TC (Limerick)

Is this march going ahead? I'm sure the whole of Limerick would unite if it did......

So, according to Willie O'Dea "Limerick Gardai have an excellent detection rate". Who is he trying to fool!

I always thought that promotions in any walk of life were based on performance. Yet this is clearly not the case in relation to the Gardai.

In the last few weeks senior Limerick Gardai have been promoted to big positions in Dublin. Meanwhile the Limerick crime situation is as bad as ever.

A change in the Leadership, tactics & operations of Limerick Gardai is long overdue. Contrary to to the line that Willie O'Dea is pushing, Limerick Gardai are clearly not up to the job. Time for change.

The people of Limerick are right to hold a march but it still wont change anything. Nothing has changed since the two Polish men were killed in Drimnagh. The public will have to put pressure on the Government to change the laws. There is no deterrent there and if someone does something bad you have their lawyer trying to get them off. My 15 year old daughter was hit on the head by a drunken/violent man and died 2 weeks later. This man later died. The other man involved was just fined €150 and even though he had a big part to play in what happened that night he is now out there to do the same thing again. There was no mention in Court of what exactly happened that night. No one asks questions why this happened and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. I am so sorry that this has happened another family but the authorities dont care.

The best way to stop this carnage is to stop buying drugs. The people who buy coke for the happy hour on a Saturday night or the person who buys and smokes dope from these drug dealing low life's have a hand in Shane Geoghegan murder. As long as there is a market on this Island for drugs theses low life's will be in the business of murder. So all you little drug users , yes you drug users. Think of the consequences before you buy.


May Shane rest in peace.

Will a march make a difference ? We have had silent marches in Limerick in this very month 6 years ago (Brian Fitzgerald) and yet here we are agian. Its time for the good men of Limerick to stand up and be counted
Is this what we want for our children

Evil prevails when good men fail to act

Shane RIP

enough is enough!we need to get this scum off our streets.the laws are a joke and im afraid irish people have gone soft.we dont care enough to stand up to these thugs and rid them from our society.we have an army that does what?the government needs to send in the army and drag every one of those scumbags and their families from their homes and lock them up.these scumbags dont respect life and never will.we need to act now!

Well done the people of Limerick. I pray that we all stand together this Saturday in memory of Shane.
It is time for our government to stop talking about the "issues" in Limerick. It is far too late and now a innocent family are paying the ultimate price for letting these scumbags on our streets.
We are no longer safe in our own homes due to this group that have destroyed the name of our city making it a place to avoid for travellers and tourists.
I will not hold my breath for any justice to regin as the irish governement hand out heavier parking fines and firework convictions to ordinary citizens then to those who are destroying the country with their drug trafficing , robbery and cold blooded murder.

I do honestly feel that it is time that Limerick people stand up and be counted one and all together in the name of justice to see and end to this violence , and end to the relocating of these low lifes into our estates where we have paid premium prices to live within the safety of our own homes . How dare the government pass on their condolences they have had 8 years to sort this problem while they were killing each other but now as one innocent brother falls it is all of a sudden a problem. Shame on you Minister o'Dea .

The march should leave Pery Square and up Hyde Road, stopping half-way up for a prayer vigil and hymns. I will definitely be there.

Shane was a few years ahead of me in school and my boyfriend played rugby with him when he played with shannon.. its seems like everyone knew him - he was a real popular guy.

i think the goverment really have to sort their shit out now and not let this one fly with excuse upon excuse. gaurds are afraid of the scumbags and would be sooner at my door if i didnt pay a parking ticket. and they reason for that is because i have respect for these people and i really probably shouldnt. And i can gaurantee you that these scumbags probably have about 20 or more previous convictions and may have done 5 months between them or not even done any prison time.

I am disgusted about this whole situation and the horrible thing is these vermon probably dont give a shit. they are scum of the earth and a waste of space. Shane had a fiance and the rest of a great life in front of him. Limerick people need to stand up for themselves cause the gaurds arent going to.

My condolences to Shanes Family - my prayers and thoughts are with you.

I will definately be at this march.

i'm fairly certain you have to give notice to the gardai to hold a march....as in a large gathering of people, so that they can redirect traffic etc, just mentioning this so that proposed march will have support of gardai and will fulfill its purpose in an organised manner, i also feel a detailed message should be delivered to the minister of justice outlining what is by required by the people to put an end to the lawlessness, this could be in written format and signed by everyone attending the march.
on a practical note.....all of this, all the rugby clubs in limerick..garryowen,boh's,young munster, shannon should be informed. any takers of leaflets or posters to inform general public of march?

I went to school with Shane at the crescent college and played rugby with him aswell. He was a really decent guy. I am also out of the country, but I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this march. I am all for peacefull protest but in conjuntion action will need to be taken to remove these "scum-bags" from our society.

The Gardai need be more visible within the city and suburbs. Legislation is needed to combat organised crime, giving extra power, to the gardai to stop/search and arrest suspects. Suspect members of gangs need to be on 24/7 "watch", they shouldnt be able to move without a memeber of an Gardai following them.

The time to act is now, these "scum-bags" have no regard for community, family, or society in general. I would recommend a protest focusing on the Minister for Justice, to act to implement new legislation to tackle this serious issue.

We need to act now! for Shane, his family, friends and for our community.

Squid

Well done for posting details of the march, i am out of the country currently as i live abroad but if i can help you guys in anyway please let me know.

Lets keep the momentum moving on this one, believe me it will bring a big change in the long run

Come on the people of Limerick.

I would love to take part in this march I am however out of the country. I would not presume for an instant to tell other people what to do but I wish all that take part the very best and to the family of this young man that I do not know and to anyone that takes part in this march I hope this is just the beginning of the end.
God bless you all.
R Ryan