Pray for an end to this brutal feud

THE murder of Derek Hutch in West Dublin yesterday indicates the bloody gangland feud which has now claimed 14 lives shows no sign of stopping soon.

We may have just entered a new year, but it looks like it’s business as usual for the Kinahan mob in 2018.

One of their assassins callously blasted the 27-year-old to death while he sat in a car at a halting site in Clondalkin.

It is further proof that despite the body count racking up the gangs remain hellbent on spilling more blood on our streets.

Unfortunately, it may not be long before the Hutch side look to exact murderous revenge for the attack.

It’s the start to 2018 gardai had been fearing and it is understood they have stopped more than 30 murders since the bloodshed broke out back in 2015.

Their stellar work last year saw the death toll in the gang war restricted to two.

Let’s hope yesterday’s gun murder won’t be a sign of things to come.

The deceased’s family members were seen sobbing uncontrollably at the scene of yesterday’s heinous crime and it’s easy to forget those left behind to grieve.

Gardai need to continue last year’s brilliant work to ensure countless other relatives aren’t left mourning the loss of a loved one at the hands of a vicious gang.

As well as this our country needs to be a place where children can play safely and where tourists can flock to without the fear of witnessing a murder.

We can’t let these hitmen use our streets as their killings fields once again in 2018.