The family of Roy Collins have welcomed a verdict of murder in the inquest into his death in Limerick in 2009, saying it brings closure to the episode.

Speaking after the hearing, in which the jury were told to bring a verdict of murder because a higher court had previously done so, Steve Collins, father of Roy, said it was a relief to finally reach the end of the ordeal which began in 2009.

The inquest heard Roy was shot once, in the upper body.

Steve Collins had moved abroad as part of the witness protection programme.

“It’s just great to get that over with because it’s something that the family wasn’t looking forward to but it’s some sort of closure."

With emotion cracking through his words, Collins said: “It’s coming up to 10 years since this came into my life.

“It’s just finished now as far as I’m concerned, I just want to get on with my life now and hopefully someday get my life back to the way it was before.”

The 34-year old business man Roy Collins, who had no criminal links, was shot dead in his Coin Castle amusement arcade at the Roxboro Shopping Centre, Limerick, on April 9th, 2009.

Three men - Wayne Dundon, Nathan Kileen, and James Dillon - are serving life sentences for the murder.