File sent to DPP over murders of two innocent people in botched gangland hit

Mother of six was one of those to die during incident in Ballymun

The court was informed that gardaí are awaiting a direction from the DPP on whether any criminal prosecutions will follow in the case. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The court was informed that gardaí are awaiting a direction from the DPP on whether any criminal prosecutions will follow in the case. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Gardaí­ have submitted files to the DPP in relation to the murder of two innocent people in a botched gangland shooting in north Dublin five years ago, a court has heard.

Dublin District Coroner’s Court was informed that gardaí­are awaiting a direction from the DPP on whether any criminal prosecutions will follow from the double murder of Antoinette Corbally (47) and Clinton Shannon (30) who suffered fatal gunshot wounds in an incident at Balbutcher Drive, Ballymun on August 16th, 2017.

Ms Corbally, a mother of six, was hit in the head and torso in the hallway of a house belonging to a relative at Balbutcher Drive at around 4pm.

Mr Shannon, a locksmith from Lincoln Hall, Applewood, Swords, Co Dublin who had no involvement in crime, had been sitting in a car parked outside the premises when he was shot in the neck and chest.

READ SOME MORE

It is believed that Ms Corbally’s brother, Derek Devoy, was the intended target of a gangland hit which occurred at around 4pm because of his role in a feud with a local criminal gang.

Mr Shannon had pulled up in the vehicle outside the house on Balbutcher Drive just before the fatal shootings.

Ms Corbally’s pregnant daughter, Andrea, who was 18 at the time was injured after a bullet grazed her, while another victim, Brian Moran, was treated in the Mater Hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg.

At a sitting of the coroner’s court on Tuesday, Inspector Luke Lacey told the coroner, Aisling Gannon, that a file had been forwarded by gardaí­on the case to the DPP and they were awaiting a direction.

Insp Lacey of Ballymun Garda station applied for an adjournment of the inquests into the death of both Ms Corbally and Mr Shannon under Section 25 of the Coroner’s Act which allows for adjournments where criminal proceedings are being considered.

Ms Gannon granted the application and adjourned the hearing until November 22nd.