A MURDER investigation has begun after a man who gardaí said was shot in a “callous” fashion in a north Co Dublin caravan park on Monday died in hospital.
Detectives are attempting to locate a black Honda Civic used as a getaway car by two gunmen. These men fired at least four times at Michael Taylor (53), from Summerhill in north inner city Dublin, in a “reckless” manner wounding him the the head and body.
Gardaí said the incident at Hand’s caravan park, 300 metres from Donabate beach, could have put the lives of others staying there for the bank holiday weekend at risk. Stray bullets hit a parked car and went through the window of a caravan which was occupied at the time.
Mr Taylor died at Beaumont Hospital yesterday morning.
No definite line of inquiry has been established but the incident has been linked to a long-running dispute between two men from the north inner city, one of whom is associated with the victim.
That feud began about five years ago when the men, who were at one time close friends, fell out in an argument over a car.
Tensions escalated over time, resulting in street fights and shootings, one of which was fatal.
The dispute is regarded by gardaí as a personal rather than gangland matter.
They are not discounting the possibility of an attack in retaliation for the murder.
An incident room has been established at Swords Garda station and at least 40 members of the Garda are participating in the investigation. Some 50 people have been interviewed so far.
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau carried out a forensic examination of the scene yesterday morning and a postmortem was carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.
At a case briefing in Swords yesterday, Garda Supt Mark Curran said two men wearing balaclavas and dressed in grey and black hooded tops entered the caravan park and attacked the man, firing at least four shots, shortly after the victim arrived at the caravan park with a friend.
“They may have followed him to the caravan park or they may have been laying in wait,” Garda Supt Curran said.
The men ran away in the direction of Donabate beach and got into a stolen metallic blue Opel Insignia, with an 09 D registration, in which they travelled to Turvey Woods.
The vehicle was then set on fire and the men left in a black Honda Civic hatchback with an 07 D registration.
“We are particularly interested in locating this [car] which left the Turvey Woods with these two individuals on board,” Garda Supt Curran added.
Anyone with information is asked to call Swords Garda station on 01-6664700 or the Garda confidential line on 1800-666111.
