Jim Long: "Ireland let the Collins family down"
The Lord Mayor of Limerick speaks out...
The Hot Press Newsdesk, 06 Apr 2012
As Steve Collins and his family attempt to set up a new life away from Ireland having been forced out by criminal gangs, the Lord Mayor of Limerick, Jim Long, expressed his disappointment to Hot Press.
In conversation with Olaf Tyaransen, Long laid the blame at the door of the State, believing that the country didn't do enough to protect Collins and his family following the murder of their son Roy in 2009.
"It's a very sad day for democracy," said Long. "Ireland let the Collins' down. There are people who gave [evidence] and have had witness protection and have lived and are living in Ireland, in different parts, but that was not the case for the Collins'. the State could not provide a safe living environment for them."
The controversial Fine Gael Mayor also spoke in-depth about his formative years, revealing a rebellious streak of sorts, claiming that he shut down Shannon industrial estate to protest about Bloody Sunday in 1972.
“I was a very strong trade unionist," he said. "When the Troubles broke out, and Bloody Sunday happened, I actually deliberately, single-handedly, shut down Shannon industrial estate, virtually on my own, because I was shocked at what happened. I went out to the personnel manager and I said, ‘Look, I want this factory shut at 12 o’clock'. He said, 'If you even attempt it, you’re sacked!' So I said, 'I don’t feel well’, and I clocked out, so I couldn’t get sacked.”
Long also considered the possibility of Sinn Féin government.
"We’re not ready for a Sinn Féin government here yet, because they haven’t been proved and tested. We know where they came from. We know how they got there. But we are a democracy. Some of them are still lagging very far behind in democracy.”
To read the full interview, in which Long addresses accusations of racism and describes the lonely nature of his profession amongst other issues, pick up the latest copy of Hot Press (Lana Del Rey cover), on shelves now.
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