GARDAÍ ARE RELUCTANT to say it, but all indications are that tonight’s murder in Dublin brings to ten the number of people killed in the Hutch-Kinahan feud since last September.
The 62-year-old man, named locally as Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan, was in a car with his partner on St Ronan’s Drive in Clondalkin just after 5pm this evening when a gunman approached and opened fire. The man was struck fatally in the head, his partner was uninjured. Gardaí would not comment further on how she was tonight, beyond saying she was “distressed”.
The shooter then left the scene and is believed to have got into a white Peugeot Partner Van, registration number: 10-CE-9834. The van would have left the estate through St Ronan’s Avenue, crossing the Neilstown road in heavy traffic.
The van was found burnt out a short distance away at the Neilstown Shopping Centre. The assassin and getaway driver had left ammunition in the van, causing it to cook and explode, though nobody was hurt.
A firearm was recovered at the scene of the shooting and is being examined.
Gardaí say that it is too early to say whether the man is a victim of the Hutch-Kinahan feud or if the man is known to gardaí, but it is believed he was an associate of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch. Sources say that it was the victim, who grew up in the north inner-city, who drove Hutch to his brother Eddie’s funeral in February.
He himself was subject to a warning that his life was in danger in recent weeks.
How he is linked to the feud is unclear, but sources say gardaí are likely to investigate whether a relative of the victim’s had crossed the Kinahan gang.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Graham says that the nature of the attack is galling.
“It’s very unfortunate for the family in run up to Christmas. The whole community are shocked that something like that can happen so blatantly at that time of day, just before Christmas and five minutes from a Garda station.”
Graham called on Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, whose constituency the shooting took place in, to make extra Garda resources available.
A full investigation has commenced and an incident room has been established at Lucan Garda Station.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact them at Lucan Garda Station on 01 666 7300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any garda station.
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