Gardaí believe a man shot in the head in north Dublin was sitting in his car outside a house he was about to call to when the gunman fired at him at point blank range.
The victim, Kenneth Finn, is a 36-year-old father of at least two young children. He was wounded in the head and has suffered catastrophic injuries.
Gardaí have sealed off the scene at Moatview Gardens, Coolock, Dublin 5.
The injured man was from the Clarehall estate around a kilometre from the scene of the shooting.
The vehicle the man was in before he was shot remains at the scene. Along with other vehicles parked close by it has been covered with plastic sheeting to preserve any forensic evidence.
At least three vehicles were due to be taken away by the Garda for forensic examination later on Monday.
It remains unclear how the gunman escaped the area and no getaway car had been found as of Monday morning.
Gardaí suspect the gunman may have been on foot and may have known the target would be in the area at the time.
Gunman
They are trying to establish if the attacker walked up to the victim’s car, fired at him and then fled on foot before being driven away by an accomplice waiting close by.
Local people heard what they believed were gunshots and when they went to investigate they found the victim injured in the front garden of a house.
His car was parked outside the house and gardaí believe he tried to flee from the vehicle when he realised he was under attack.
The emergency services were called and the victim was treated at the scene by Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics. He was then taken to Beaumont Hospital where he remains critically ill.
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau were examining the crime scene and gardaí from Coolock were carrying out door to door inquiries in the area.
Gardaí believe the injured man had links to major criminal figures in north Dublin and those associations are being probed in an effort to establish a motive for last night’s attack.
While the investigation is still in its early stages, gardaí do not believe it is linked to the Kinahan-Hutch feud.
Appeal for witnesses
Supt Gerard Donnelly of Coolock Garda station said all aspects of the attack were under investigation and he appealed for people to come forward.
He said the attack happened at about 8.15pm and he urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who was in the Moatview area at the time to come forward.
“The victim is currently in the intensive care unit of Beaumont Hospital and his condition is described as critical,” he said.
“A full investigation has commenced at Coolock Garda station and an incident room established.
“No motive has been identified for this shooting and while we are at the early stages of this investigation I’d appeal to the public for witnesses.”
He said anybody who witnessed the shooting or who was in the Moatview Gardens area, or the general Priorswood area, between 7pm and 8.30pm should come forward.
“Did they notice anything suspicious, which they think may be connected with this shooting? I’d ask them to contact Coolock Garda station.”
Gardaí can contact investigating officers in Coolock Garda station at (01) 666 4200 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.
