The brother of murdered Real IRA chief Alan Ryan has died in hospital after he was ambushed and shot a number of times as he sat in a car outside his partner’s home in Dublin.
Vincent Ryan (25), was sitting alone in a white Volkswagen Golf at about 3.15pm after dropping his partner and infant child to their home on McKee Road in Finglas.
A silver five-door Volkswagen Golf with alloy wheels pulled up alongside and discharged a number of shots into the vehicle.
It’s understood Mr Ryan suffered gunshot wounds to the head and body.
The car sped from the scene towards Clune Road and Jamestown Road in Finglas and was later found burnt out in the Victoria Bridge area on the Naas to Rathangan Road.
Mr Ryan had been warned his life was in danger, and this is the second time in a few months he has been targeted.
Facial injuries
He suffered serious but non-life threatening facial injuries after being approached by a man with a knife on Parnell Square in October.
The victim’s brother, Alan Ryan, was regarded as a senior figure in the Real IRA before he was shot dead close to his home in Clongriffin, north Dublin, in 2012. He was visiting family members at a house in the area when he was ambushed on the street.
There was a public outcry when men dressed in full paramilitary garb fired salute shots at Ryan’s funeral in an apparent show of strength. The men’s attire included green military-style jumpers and combat trousers along with scarves covering their faces, dark sunglasses and black berets.
A group purporting to be the Continuity IRA claimed responsibility for the attack at the Regency Hotel earlier this month and said it was in retaliation for the killing of Alan Ryan, but detectives have said there is no indication yesterday’s attack and the recent spate of shootings in Dublin are connected.
An incident room has been set up at Finglas Garda station.
Detectives are attempting to establish a motive for the shooting and are fearful the attack on a man linked to dissident republicans could lead to further feuding.
Supt John Quirke of Finglas Garda station has appealed for anyone who was in the McKee Road area between 2pm and 4pm or who saw a silver Volkswagen Golf in the Finglas area before or after the shooting to come forward.
The scene of the shooting was sealed off as detectives from the Garda technical Bureau carried out an examination.
