A gangland killing in a country town

Western People, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland ^ | Wednesday, May 11, 2005 | Cróna Esler

[Murtyo]

there are a bunch of references to CCTV in this article - part of a mindset I think - that monitoring whole towns is the way to address this problem

[oldenuff2no]

I got to the part about "only expecting this kind of killing in a major American city" and quit reading.
These people have been watching way too much T V. They need to be reminded that the shoot-em-up shows that populate our networks are not real.
Idiots....

[Murtyo]

i don't expect much indepth knowledge of the US from people in the West of Ireland or any other place. But I know exactly what you mean - it gets old - tired, pointless cliches about the US.

[Bogolyubski]

Here's a revolutionary idea for the good people of Ireland: What would happen if the merchants on that Sligo street (and elsewhere) were allowed to own guns - and as lawful gunowners were considered to be auxiliary members of the Guardai? An alert shopkeeper with a powerful firearm in hand may have caused the hitman to flee at least for that day and place.

The article's description of the murder - the fact that a headshot wasn't immediately fatal - would be most consistent with a .22 handgun, a favorite of hitmen since it can be silenced fairly easily. I would certainly not wish to face down some guy holding a shotgun or a .9mm Carbine with a .22 handgun. Those odds aren't very favorable.

Do such thoughts ever occur to people in Europe?

[TheMole]

That PC nonsense of "partner" and "settled traveller" also gets old fast.

[Murtyo]

I heard my brother's mother-in-law refer to someone as a "partner" - I hear partner and I think business, but in Ireland it's become a PC way of IDing people who're shacking up. And "Settled Traveller" it's that an oxymoron or an oxy O'Moron or something??

[Murtyo]

Oh!! But Irish people don't need guns, they're only for cowboys in America and other places, plus they're going to pass a NEW law making it more illegal to possess a handgun and then the criminals will decide to hand there in.

[BBell]

So the police examined the scene, did door to door inquiry's, but I didn't read where they were examining Hughie McGinley's past to see who would want him dead. Two attempts on his life clearly show he was probably up to no good and with the wrong crowd. I must of missed this mentioned in the article. I see that he was a traveler so maybe that explains something. I think the police need an organized crime task force to pool their resources.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

HE HE, The Western People on FR - I'll have to start posting articles from the paper (few Barf Alerts by Christy Loftus!)!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Sligo Town/city is a hellhole - Limerick of the Northwest!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Here's a revolutionary idea for the good people of Ireland: What would happen if the merchants on that Sligo street (and elsewhere) were allowed to own guns - and as lawful gunowners were considered to be auxiliary members of the Guardai? An alert shopkeeper with a powerful firearm in hand may have caused the hitman to flee at least for that day and place.

Exactly what I advocate - but remember most Gardai are unarmed themselves - the only people around here that can carry as many arms as they want are terrorist-traitors of Sinn Fein/IRA!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Oh!! But Irish people don't need guns, they're only for cowboys in America and other places, plus they're going to pass a NEW law making it more illegal to possess a handgun and then the criminals will decide to hand there in.

LOL!! But what's this new law? Here's an idea: remove Sinn Fein/IRA's weapons by force!!!

[Dan from Michigan]

Sligo Town/city is a hellhole - Limerick of the Northwest!

Limerick is one of the places I want to visit because my mom's family came from there and Waterford. I've heard rumors of Limerick.

How rough is it? Would I be in danger of getting carjacked or robbed there 24/7, or is it just a gritty blue collar town?

Keep in mind when I think of city hellholes, I think of places like the Dexter or Brightmoor neighborhoods of Detroit, which is the epidomy of the "inner city" Stereotype.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Well, keep away from the Southhill estate (government owned housing - draws freeloading scumbags - don't you know).

[Youngblood]

Limerick is safe. Like any city, it has areas that you should stay out of, especially at night. The bad press Limerick has been getting over the past number of years is primarily down to a blood feud between rival criminal families and the assassination of a bouncer who stood up to thugs selling drugs in a night club. Unless you're planning on visiting those housing estates, I don't think you've much to worry about.

[Youngblood]

Gun ownership just hasn't been an issue in Ireland through the years. Gun crime has always been very low. Maybe attitudes will change if gun crime increases, but I can't see it. More armed Gardai, maybe. So far, guns just haven't been considered a necessity. And anyone who really wants one can get themselves a shotgun.

[Youngblood]

Maybe its the scenic setting, but I happen to find Sligo a very pleasant spot. I hope it doesn't a bad name just because of this murder. You can get a good hammering in any Irish town at the weekend when all the drunken kids leave the nightclubs.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Frank McCourt certainly doesn't make his hometown sound very appealing to the average tourist.

:7)

[Youngblood]

The people of Limerick weren't too happy with McCourt after "Angela's Ashes"! To be honest, his account of Limerick was probably true of any Irish town back then. Ireland was a repressive, depressing place in many ways back then.

[Dan from Michigan]

That was one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen.