Man held over Dublin shooting

Gardaí have arrested a man in connection with a double shooting in south Dublin this morning.

Gardaí have arrested a man in connection with a double shooting in south Dublin this morning.

Gardaí believe the gun attack in south Dublin, in which a man was shot five times, is linked to a business rivalry. The injured man, a 38-year-old from Lithuania, was wounded in the upper body and chin but is expected to survive.

The incident occurred just before 8.30am as the victim and his son were driving out of the Aiken Village development in Stepaside, where their family lives in an apartment.

As they made their way out of the development in their Mercedes, a grey Ford Mondeo pulled across the road blocking their way. Two men got out of the Mondeo, at least one of whom was armed with a handgun.

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Garda sources said the gunman ran to the driver's window and fired at least five shots at the victim using a semi automatic pistol. The victim's son was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car but was not wounded.

The attackers ran back to their own car but were chased by the wounded man's son. The attackers then abandoned their Mondeo. They ran into the adjacent Sandyford Hall estate and on toward the Kilgobbin Road and Murphystown Road.

Gardaí believe they were most likely picked up by a taxi or by an accomplice in another vehicle.

The emergency services were immediately alerted and the wounded man and his son were taken for treatment to St Vincent's Hospital. The boy is believed to have sustained an injury to his arm as he frustrated the escape of the attackers.

Gardai have appealed for anybody who witnessed the attack, saw the attackers fleeing the scene on foot or may have seen anybody loitering in the Aiken Village development in recent days to contact them at Blackrock Garda station.

Gardai investigating the shooting are following a definite line of inquiry. They arrested a man in his 40s in west Dublin at lunchtime. He is being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at Blackrock Garda station.

While a number of witnesses saw the men in the area, there was no clear description of them available for gardaí from the witnesses.

The victim's car and that car used by the gunman and his accomplice have both be taken for analysis by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

Gardaí have appealed for information about the movements of a silver Ford Mondeo car, registration 99 D 47450, which they say was used by the suspects.

Anyone with information about the incident, who noticed the car in question or suspicious activity in the Aiken Estate or surrounding area in recent days is asked to contact Blackrock Garda station on (01) 6665200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any Garda station.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll is an Assistant News Editor with The Irish Times