LAST UPDATE | 24 Jun 2022

A MAN HAS been seriously injured in a shooting in a basement car park in Dublin 8. 

It happened in the Kilmainham area of the capital at around 11.30am in a large underground parking complex shared by the Hilton Hotel and an apartment development. 

The victim has been taken to hospital for treatment to serious injuries, a Garda statement said. 

The scene has been sealed off as initial tests take place. 

No arrests have been made. 

Several people told The Journal of their disbelief at the shooting.

One woman who was out walking her dog said she was amazed something like this happened so close to Kilmainham Garda Station (around 300 metres away).

“It doesn’t make much sense to me,” she said.

“The garda station is right there and there are so many people around. This is the high season for tourists and the area is always very busy. Now I am not shocked that someone has been shot but the time of day and where it happened is very strange to me.”

Three tourists who are staying in the Hilton Hotel said they “didn’t think things like this happened in Ireland”.

The three women, from Indiana, explained how they have a “problem with guns in the US”.

“Wow. I didn’t think this happened here. We always thought Ireland was a very safe place. We have a lot of guns in America but a lot of people use them for hunting. It’s crazy. It happened in our hotel too. It’s all crazy with people talking about it.”

A local resident said that she had lived in the Kilmainham area for years and that there is increasing concern around crime in the area.

“I’ve been living here for years and it’s a great area, but lately, there is rising local concern about antisocial behaviour, burglaries and open drug use,” said the resident.

“That would be bad enough but there is a complete lack of policing in the Kilmainham/Inchicore area from what we can see.

“Locals have been left wanting when calls are made to Gardai and there’s never a sign of a police presence on the beat in the area.”

Another resident said that it “doesn’t say much for deterrence if they can carry out a gangland hit or a gang deal gone wrong within 100 yards of country’s busiest garda station”.

“We see that impunity with a very small group of teenagers hassling shopkeepers in the area. Guards are called and don’t come. They are clearly understaffed but don’t seem to be shouting for more resources,” he said.

An incident room has been set up in the nearby Kilmainham Garda Station. 

A spokesperson said: “Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

“Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the South Circular Road in the Kilmainham area on the morning of Friday, 24th June, 2022, are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kilmainham Garda Station on 01 666 9700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”

Local Green Party TD, Patrick Costello, has called for a “high visibility” Garda response following the shooting.

“There has been evidence of an escalating issue with gang related gun violence in Dublin 8 in recent months which is putting innocent members of the public at severe risk.

“Today’s shooting has taken it to a new level with a brazen attack in broad daylight where the public could have been caught in the crossfire.

“The Garda Commissioner needs to prioritise a high visibility policing operation to ensure public confidence that law and order prevails in Dublin 8 and that it is safe for people to go about their business,” Costello said.

Additional reporting by Laura Byrne