The gathering was organised by community groups throughout west Belfast in support of the campaign, headed by the families of three men who were murdered.

The campaigners were hoping to gather more than 50,000 signatures on a petition aimed at securing justice for the victims of anti-social-behaviour.

As the crowd gathered at the City Hall a cavalcade of black taxis and private vehicles made its way from the Falls Road to the city centre in a high visibility show of solidarity with the families of Harry Holland, John Mongan and Frank ‘Bap’ McGreevey who were murdered in the past nine months.

Acting as spokesperson for the campaign, Sarah Holland, Mr Holland’s daughter, said: “We want to highlight the gaps in the criminal justice system and to send out an unequivocal ‘no’ to anti-social behaviour.

“We want to see tougher sentences and more co-operation between statutory agencies in tackling anti-social crime.”

Ms Holland added: “We want to highlight the affect this violence has on families.”

Among those who showed up to support the families were the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tom Hartley, Ardoyne priest, Father Aidan Troy, the MP for West Belfast, Gerry Adams and former Lord Mayor, Councillor Jim Rodgers.