New figures have revealed that there are over 240 unsolved cases of murders committed by criminal gangs in Ireland.
The cases range between 1980 and present day, with more than 130 of the murders occurring in the last decade, the Irish Mirror reports.
Families of some of the victims appeared on RTE’s Prime Time in a special report on the killings on June 1. The family members asked for anyone with information on the killings to contact Gardai.
Geraldine Noonan and Michelle Murphy are sisters whose sons were killed in a case of mistaken identity in November 2010. Cousins Mark Noonan and Glen Murphy were shot at a filling station in Finglas by members of a Dublin gang.
Their killers fled the scene, crossing the border into Northern Ireland at speeds of up to 200km/h and were never brought to justice.
Geraldine told Prime Time: “They went to the shop that night like anybody else to get a DVD and a packet of cigarettes. Mark had a little girl, she was only nine months old.
“He picked Glen to be the godfather. Mark and Glen were always together.
“Our lads are now lying in a grave and the killers are still out walking and living.”
Michelle added: “Somebody knows something. And we need those people to come forward.
“I’m not saying it would bring Mark and Glen back that’s never going to happen but it would help us.
“It could do tremendous things.”
Also on the show was Jean O’Connor, who talked about about the murder of her son Owen and friend Anthony Keegan.
In April 2014, Owen and Anthony had borrowed her car to travel from Dublin to Cavan, but they never returned from the journey.
They were missing for five weeks when their bodies were discovered at Inchicup island at Lough Sheelin on the Cavan/Meath border. Both had been shot dead.
“I don’t know what would bring people to do that. What kind of minds they have,” said Jean.
“Eoin was a family man, he had two beautiful children. He was my son.
“Somebody knows who is responsible and I am appealing to those people. We will never be the same again but if we get justice it would help us.”
Anyone with information on any unsolved murder are asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1 800 666 111.
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