DUBLIN - Police in the Republic of Ireland are struggling to cope with a rash of criminal underworld killings in Dublin and elsewhere which has reached record levels and struck fear into local residents.
This week's killings of a major drug baron and an innocent bystander in Dublinmean that a total of 23 people have been shot dead this year, leading to public outcry and mounting political controversy.
Authorities are braced for further violence since the slain drug boss, Martin "Marlo" Hyland, was possibly the republic's number one criminal, up to his neck in murders, drugs and armed robberies.
Hyland was in bed in his niece's house when gunmen burst in and shot him six times with weapons fitted with silencers. They also shot dead Anthony Campbell, an apprentice plumber working in the house.
Campbell was described as an innocent young man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Few are shedding tears over the murder of Hyland, a killer who had chosen a violent criminal lifestyle.
But there has been a wave of emotion about the Campbell killing because the young man was completely uninvolved in crime.
Only last week a Kilkenny postmaster was shot dead while pursuing a gunman who robbed his post office.
Authorities have poured more police and resources into tackling violent organised crime.
The Hyland attack illustrates that many shootings appear to be contract killings. Many fear now that the killing can only get worse.
