Updated 2.40pm
A MAN IN his 40s was shot dead in front of a school in Ballymun, north Dublin, this morning, with locals saying the community are “in total shock”.
The incident occurred on Gateway Avenue – close to two schools. Gardaí said the man in his 40s was shot a number of times by a lone gunman who fled the scene. The injured man was brought to the Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Local independent candidates Sean Tyrell said the shooting happened less than 100 metres from where he lives and the people he has been talking to “are in total shock, especially that this happened in an area that is normally quite busy at the time of the incident”.
“There is a primary school right beside the scene, and a creche about 20 – 50 meters away,” he said.
It’s very unsettling for people to know that this can happen in their own back garden.
Fine Gael representative Noel Rock said this kind of shooting in broad daylight “is becoming depressingly frequent, and we need to work to stamp it out”.
“A shooting outside a school in broad daylight is as brazen as it gets, and it’s just chance that we’re in the middle of an Easter break and no children were there to witness this horrific scene,” he commented
This isn’t welcome in Ballymun, and on behalf of local people I would condemn it in the strongest possible terms. This is a great community and this kind of criminal activity needs to be ended. I would urge anybody who has any knowledge to contact gardaí in Ballymun. My sympathies to the man’s family.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this shooting to contact Ballymun Garda Station on 01 6664400, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
First published 9.54am
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