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THE INTENDED TARGET of a shooting in Ballymun, north Dublin, yesterday afternoon had been warned by gardaí of the threat to his life months beforehand.
Two people were killed and another two were injured when a gunman opened fire outside a house on Balbutcher Road. One of the victims, Antoinette Corbally (40s), a mother of six, was the sister of convicted criminal Derek Devoy, who gardaí believe was the intended target of this hit.
Corbally was fatally wounded as she stood at the doorway of the Ballymun house talking to her boyfriend, who sustained a gunshot wound to the leg in the incident, but was not critically injured.
Also killed was an associate of Devoy’s, a man in his 30s, who had driven him to the house and was waiting in a car outside.
Antoinette Corbally’s 18-year-old daughter also suffered minor injuries in the incident, though it is understood she was not shot.
It is believed the gunman followed Devoy and had planned to ambush him outside the house, but he ran into the property and escaped injury.
Devoy was released from prison in 2015 after serving time for shooting at his neighbours and for an attempted post office robbery in Balbriggan, north Dublin. TheJournal.ie understands gardaí had warned him of the threat to his life around three months ago.
The Armed Response Unit has also been carrying out checkpoints in the area because of this threat. A source told TheJournal.ie that Devoy had recently angered the same north Dublin gang suspected of murdering his brother ‘Mad’ Mickey in January 2014.
Mickey Devoy was shot dead the day after his release from Portlaoise prison.
He had attempted to kill convicted drug dealer Greg Lynch the previous year. He shot Lynch in the face at close range outside a bar on Hanlon’s Corner in north Dublin, but the drug boss survived the attack.
Mickey Devoy murder was believed to have been in retaliation for this attempted hit.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie about the incident, local Fine Gael TD Noel Rock said it was “the worst thing to happen in Ballymun in many years”.
“My sympathies are with the deceased and my thoughts are with the injured. I hope that gardaí are successful in their enquiries, assisted by the community where necessary and that order is restored and justice is done,” he said.
It is frustrating to see this happening in Ballymun when we all know that the community is much more than this kind of bad news.
Yesterday evening Chief Superintendent Lorraine Wheatley appealed for anyone with information about this fatal shooting to contact gardaí:
I want to appeal to the community for any information they may have in respect of this crime. We’re particularly interested in people who may beenin Balbutcher Drive today around 4 o’clock or even during the course of the day. We’re also appealing to people who may have dash cams, maybe delivery drivers, taxi drivers – that footage may be of some use.
Wheatley also confirmed that a firearm had been recovered “in the vicinity” and is currently being analysed.
A silver Opel Zafira with number plates of 08 LS was found partially burnt out a short distance from the scene at Balbutcher Drive. Gardaí also found a second car – a Golf GTi with number plates 06-LH-3466 – at Santry Close, which they believe is linked to the incident.
Post-mortem examinations are expected to take place later today.
Anyone with information can contact Ballymun Garda Station on 01 666 4400 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
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Fair play to Glen and all involved. Lovely tradition for a great cause! Merry Christmas
@Brian Dunne:
Looks like great craic. Would love to get to it sometime. Especially when ya don’t know who’s gonna show.
Virtue signalling at its worst.
@Kevin Gorman: zzzzzzzzz
@Ebeneezer Goode: Oh dear. It’s Christmas. Be nice.
@Chin Feeyin: An important characteristic of virtue signalling is that there is no cost associated with the act; simple public vocalisation in support of a cause has no cost to the signaller. That’s all.
@Kevin Gorman: no cost? Yeah, I’m sure there’s no cost at all involved in this event. You’re leaving out that many people pay these acts to do this in other settings all year round. By not being paid there is a cost. Anybody doing their job for free is incurring a cost.
@Kevin Gorman: have a day off lad
@Kevin Gorman: Exactly what you are doing here. Numb nuts.
Virtue signalling.
@Kevin Gorman: Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
@Ebeneezer Goode: more damned when they do
Nobody “deserves” a home, you “deserve” what you work hard for and earn.
@Sirius: Jesus and his parents didn’t deserve a home, so the Bethlehem Village Council quite rightly didn’t do anything to shelter them.
@Sirius: tell that to homeless children.. I’m Jewish but isn’t there something in the NT a bout no room at the Inn.. Correct me if I’m wrong!
@Sirius: tell that to all the kids that are homeless ya tit
@Sirius: As I already said and it’s been removed. You are a massive bell end. Everyone deserves a home/roof over their heads no matter how much money they have/ make. I hope to god you are never out on your arse at this time of year, God forgive you for such a nasty comment.
@olivia smith: yawn. Your a simpleton
@Victor Feldman: Now you go and ruin the whole rant. How unkind of you.
What’s with all these homeless charities having huge cash piles. If the homeless crisis was solved then all these charities would go out of biz. Wouldn’t want that now would they, so let’s hold of the spend and keep them mean.
@J: under this government the homeless crises went from 1,000 to 11,000 and you want to blame charities? If we had a good government who built houses then we wouldn’t need charities anyway, that should be all of our goals
@Kev: you’ve fudged your numbers a bit there but the idea is spot on
…Revelate. Nice one.
I can’t imagine a worse fate than being homeless at Christmas. Unless it’s being homeless at Christmas and having to listen to Glen Hansard and Imelda May. May God have mercy on every soul in attendance
Sounds terrible.. It not music..
Not as good without bono
@Eugene Kelly: Hansard such a pain even bono won’t go near him. Now THATS virtue signalling!
@Eugene Kelly: his so called philanthropy passing an old bucket around. The Irish rich just don’t do philanthropy except as a tax dodge.
Good initiative but only few people can access and for people a bit further down the street you cant hear a thing. So we left after 5 minutes. Maybe they should do something a bit more organised at some stage so people can enjoy this and give to the cause.
@Georges Dessaint: this sorr of thing is just window dressing for the u2 warbler.. Its his idea of being what he terms a philanthropist.. Its a cheap joke.
@Victor Feldman: pretty sure it’s Hansard’s baby
Would be nice to see happen D1 area sometime
@Mr Grumble: more cash to be made from the wealthy clase by picking the most overpriced street in Ireland
@Kev: agreed… but might attract well heeled to absorb wonderful culture and class mix.
I was surprised how many wouldnt donate to the cause yet were happy to watch a free gig . I witnessed 3 foreigners give out to the guy with the bucket shouting at him to get out of their way shouting in their own language. The guy handled it well. Thanks ladies for your spirit and donations great to see thank you. Shame on them
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