Roy Collins

Happy Days

Steve Collins talks to Newstalk Radio on his son's death.

www.rte.ie/tv/miriam/av_20090711.html?2579076,null,228

AdVIC(Advocates for Victims of Homicide) is an organisation regrouping families bereaved by homicide

We wish to offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Roy Collins on their tragic loss. As all involved with AdVIC have suffered a similar tragedy, we have some understanding of the pain, trauma and the enormous difficulties being felt by all following this tragedy.

We would like to invite you and any other family in such a position, to visit our website www.advic.ie where you will find contact details, information and support that may be important to you in the coming months.

At such a sad time may you find strength and hope in each other

At last, Limerick has decided to stand up for itself by supporting the March today, organised by the Collins family. For too long since Roy was shot there seems to have been a horrible silence. If we all don't stand together in unity these gangs will have won; remember the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller on his experiences during Nazi Germany;

" When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

Then they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
I did not speak out;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out for me.

I assure Roy Collins' family of the prayerful support of the Church of Ireland community.

The manner of Roy Collins' tragic murder may lead some to despair – that there can be no stopping the evil deeds of those who seem to hold our community in the grip of terror. But the overwhelming response of the community tells another story. We are saying, we will not put up with the callous desecration of human life.

As Christians we are people of hope. The resurrection of Jesus following his cruel murder is evidence that the power of God’s love is greater than any evil. As a community, as people of hope, we must work together, supporting each other in every way possible, to overcome evil with good. In so doing each of us can be agents of God’s love in these tragic and evil circumstances in the way that the prayer of St Francis puts it so directly.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

On the wings of a snow-white dove
He sends His pure sweet love
A sign from above
On the wings of a dove

When troubles surround us
When evils come
The body grows weak
The spirit grows numb
When these things beset us
He doesn't forget us
He sends down his love
On the wings of a dove

God of merciful love,
Help these families who are victims of murder
To accept the reality of such senseless acts of violence
Without, at the same time,
Succumbing to the despair of so great a loss.
May this violence become for them, instead,
A steppingstone toward greater union with you.
Teach them the forgiveness that was exemplified
By Jesus as he said,
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
And through his redemptive love,
Show your mercy to the perpetrators of these crimes.
Fill the emptiness of their victim hearts
With the fire of your divine love
So as to transform their losses
Into a healing power
For themselves and for our world.
Amen.
[Maria Hines, of Louisville, Kentucky, is a former board member of Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation,
as well as the founder and director of its Kentucky affiliate. In 1989 her brother, a Virginia State trooper, was
killed in the line of duty. The man who killed Jerry Hines received a death sentence. Before his execution,
Maria forgave Dennis Eaton and, unsuccessfully, sought clemency for him. She continues her work as a
staunch opponent of the death penalty through her own organization and through membership in the
Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.]

I listened to the news today, as I fed my son his bottle, when Roy's father said his family had been shattered and how heart breaking it was for him to nurse his son after being shot in the back. I looked at my own son in my arms and knew how gutted that man was. I found myself crying aloud and could feel his pain. Such a waste of a human life, a son, a young father. How do we make all this pain go away?

The memory of a good person
is a blessing.
Proverb 10:7

My heart goes out to the Collin's family and my heart breaks for Sharon & Charlie.

To Roy's family at this terrible time, my thoughts and prayers.