Girl shot by man who then killed himself

A 16-year-old girl is in a critical condition in hospital after a double shooting in Wexford in which a young man died

A 16-year-old girl is in a critical condition in hospital after a double shooting in Wexford in which a young man died. Mr John Hendrick (20), died shortly after the incident outside the Phoenix pub at St Aidan's Crescent on Sunday.

Gardai are working on the theory that he shot his former girlfriend, Ms Amy Bolger, before turning the gun on himself. Insp Dave Sheehan said gardai were still attempting to piece together the circumstances, but he confirmed that nobody else was being sought.

Ms Bolger, of Liam Mellows Park, Wexford, was shot in the shoulder. She was transferred yesterday to St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.

A Garda source said she had had an "on-off relationship" with Mr Hendrick, but they had broken up recently. Both were in the Phoenix pub on Sunday evening but in different groups. Mr Hendrick, who lived close to the pub in Talbot Green, left the premises after an argument developed, although it was not clear yesterday he was involved. He returned some time later with a legally held shotgun, and Ms Bolger was called outside.

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Customers inside the pub were shocked to hear two shotgun blasts. The injured Ms Bolger managed to make her way back into the pub. She was assisted by customers. Gardai were alerted and an ambulance made its way to the scene. Mr Hendrick died shortly afterwards.

Mr Hendrick, who worked as a builders' labourer, was known to the Garda and had been convicted for a number of minor public order offences. He did not own the gun used in the attack and it did not belong to a member of his family.

He leaves his parents, three brothers and three sisters. A post-mortem is to be carried out today by the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison. Gar dai said reports in some newspapers that Mr Hendrick jumped from Wexford bridge in June were incorrect.

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley

Chris Dooley is Foreign Editor of The Irish Times