NEARLY FOUR YEARS ago, Dean Johnson was shot dead near his home in Clondalkin in a case of mistaken identity.
He was just 21.
A black Vauxhall Vectra car, which was later discovered on fire on Collinstown Crescent, also in Clondalkin, is believed to have been used in the incident and three men were seen running from the vehicle.
The area is a busy part of the Dublin suburb and gardaí appealed for anyone in a nearby pub or on a Dublin Bus Nitelink to get in contact.
However, despite some arrests, nobody has been charged with the murder.
Last week a memorial was placed in Harelawn Green, where Dean was shot.
Coinciding with the memorial, a local councillor who was on the scene that night has appealed for information.
Sinn Féin councillor Mark Ward lives on the street and called the ambulance on the night.
The night Dean died still haunts me. I was staying in my family home in Harelawn Green, in bed reading when I heard rapid gun fire.I looked out the bedroom window and I saw a body lying face down on the road outside my home. Immediately I called an ambulance and attended the scene along with neighbours and passers-by.
“The sight was horrific, a young man face down, unmoving and covered in blood. I and other neighbours did our best to help Dean while we waited on emergency services.”
Ward said that while the “travesty has never been righted”, he was grateful for the memorial.
“I am pleased that the Council responded favourably to a motion that I tabled last year a tree and a tree has been planted and a memorial stone has been laid in Harelawn Green. My neighbours were united on the night in helping Dean and I know from talking with them that the night still haunts them.
“I want to thank SDCC for all the support and effort that went in to having this memorial stone placed so Dean’s family have somewhere to remember him by in his neighbourhood.
“Dean Johnson was not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dean was in his own neighbourhood. The gunman who callously murdered Dean was in the wrong place. He had no right to direct the violence not only on Dean but also on Dean’s family and Clondalkin in general.
“This criminality has no place in our communities.”
Gardaí say that the investigation into the shooting is ongoing and is a live investigation.
“We would appeal for anyone with any information to contact Clondalkin Garda Station on 666-7600.”
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