SUPERFICIALLY at least, the murders located on the map (left) - all unsolved have much in common. The killers have generally used a 9 mm pistol. In some cases the victims were caught alone, in others there were witnesses whom the killer clearly did not fear. In four cases - Weafer, Delaney, and the McCabe and Brennan killing - there may have been a dispute before the murder. The other eight were clearly planned.

All the victims except Brennan had criminal connections. Cahill's murder was claimed by the IRA, but no one has claimed the others.

1. Martin Cahill (45): On an afternoon in August 1994 Cahill - "The General" - left his Ranelagh home in his Renault 5 van to make a routine trip to the video store. When he stopped at a junction near his home two men were waiting - one dressed as a motorcycle courier and the other, unmasked, carrying a clipboard.

This man fired a shot through the window of Cahill's car, which crashed into a wall across the road. The assassin ran across and fired four more shots into Cahill, using a small, handgun. The two escaped on the motorbike.

2. Patrick Shanahan (46): Twice a week Shanahan went to a health club in Drimnagh for karate and fitness classes. One evening in October 1994 he left the club and walked to his car. His killer was awaiting. He stepped up in front of Shanahan, raised a handgun to his head and fired once. The bullet entered just below the eye, killing the victim instantly.

3. David Weafer (31): Weafer was found dead at his home in Finglas in June 1995. A neighbour said he had heard two shots. A friend who broke into Weafer's home found him lying in the hallway. The only visible wound was one shot to the head.

4. Francis Preston (30): Preston left his home in Baldoyle at the same time every weekday morning. In June 1995 he was reversing out of the driveway shortly after 7 a.m. when a man cycled up the road. The car window was open. The gunman fired once, the bullet entering Preston's head via the right cheek. As he slumped, the killer fired again, the second bullet entering the head on the right side. The killer cycled away.

5. Gerard Connolly (29): On an evening in August 1995, Connolly was at his house in Ballyfermot when the doorbell rang shortly before midnight. As he reached the glasspanelled door the gunman outside put his weapon close to the glass. He fired twice, leaving only one hole in the glass. Preston was hit in the chest by both bullets. The killer, wearing a cap but no mask, was driven away by an accomplice.

6. Eric Shortall (23): One evening last November Shortall was walking with his girlfriend down a street near his home, Just around the corner from where Connolly was shot. A white Honda motorcycle with false registration plates pulled up alongside. The pillion passenger fired at close range hitting Shortall in the hip. His girlfriend watched as Shortall fell to the ground and the gunman dismounted walked up to his victim and fired twice more into his upper body. The man remounted and was driven away.

7. Eddie McCabe (30) and Catherine Brennan (28): Late last November the two drove from Brennan's house in Tallaght to a nearby petrol station. It was about 4 a.m. On their return journey they pulled into the side of the road. McCabe appears to have got out of the car to talk to someone. He was shot in the head, falling on to the road. Brennan had remained in the passenger seat. Her killer fired through the passenger window, hitting her in the head. She is believed to have been killed only because she witnessed McCabe's murder.

8. Christopher Delnney (46): At 7 p.m. after the McCabe and Brennan murders Christy Delaney went to answer a caller at the back door of his home in Finglas. Delaney may have known his killer the two men had a brief argument before the killer produced a gun and fired into Delaney's head and chest and then ran away. Delaney died about 10 minutes later.

9. Gerry Lee (31): Lee was celebrating his birthday last month at a house in Coolock. The night's drinking stretched into early morning and at about 7 a.m. a man came to the door and asked for Lee. He approached Lee and shot him twice at close range. Lee died shortly afterwards.

10. John Reddan (40s): Reddan was drinking in the Blue Lion pub in Parnell Street one evening early this month when, at about 6.30 p.m., a man wearing a motorcycle helmet came in and walked through the lounge to the lavatory. Then he came back, walked up to Reddan and shot him in the side of the head. The gunman and an accomplice who had waited at the door drove off on a motorcycle.

11. John Kelly (34): Kelly was watching television at a house in Clondalkin last Saturday evening. Just before 9 p.m. two unmasked men came to the house. The key was in the front door. One man waited outside while the other entered the house and went into the front room, where Kelly and two women were sitting. Kelly jumped up as the door opened, and the gunman fired a shot into his chest. When he fell the gunman fired a second time, the bullet entering the back of Kelly's neck.