Reaction: The collapse of the Liam Keane murder trial did not come as a major surprise to many of the residents of the Island Field area of the city where the victim, Mr Eric Leamy, lived.
Political reaction in Limerick was somewhat muted but local Labour TD Ms Jan O'Sullivan described the development as "very disturbing".
"People in Limerick want to see these issues brought to trial. People in Limerick want to ensure that all murder charges are brought to trial.
"Essentially, it is a breakdown of the system. We also need more gardaí on the streets in Limerick to maintain law and order."
Meanwhile, Limerick gardaí involved in the investigation were last night said to be frustrated and saddened by the turn of events.
"There is definitely a certain degree of sadness among gardaí that witnesses who clearly outlined events in their statements to gardaí failed to recollect what happened when called to give evidence under oath," said a senior Garda source.
"The outcome of this case obviously has huge implications for they way we do business. At present, all we can do is gather evidence and bring it to court where it can be challenged - that is the law of evidence. It is just unfortunate that certain witnesses failed to remember what they had said in statements to gardaí during the trial."
Mr Leamy's parents were last night described as "emotionally distraught". They travelled home by train to Limerick last night after being comforted by members of the Victim Support Group in Dublin.
Mr Leamy worked at Tesco's in Limerick city. After his murder, staff there described him as hard-working and said he never missed a day's work.
It is understood a row over a dog led to his death, which took place near his family home in St Mary's Park in the King's Island area of Limerick city in August 2001.
Mr Liam Keane is a nephew of Kieran Keane, who was shot dead in an execution-style killing in Limerick last January.
Five men charged with his murder and the attempted murder of his nephew, Mr Owen Treacy, on the same night, are due to stand trial today at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cloverhill.