Gardaí seek witnesses to Islandbridge shooting

Gardaí have sought witnesses to a shooting in Dublin's Islandbridge in which several shots were fired at a man in his 30s.

It is understood that several attempts have been made on the man’s life in the past year.

The incident happened at a car park at the Islandbridge Court and Bellevue apartments in the Dublin 8 suburb just before 7pm yesterday.

The 35-year-old man was driving a silver BMW with an 01- D registration when it was rammed by a red Honda Civic car with an 08 -D registration. Two men jumped from the Honda and fired several shots at the man who then fled on foot.

Gardaí said he escaped into Bellevue Apartments and was uninjured in the attack.

One of the gunmen was described as being five foot eight inches tall and was wearing a grey jacket and blue jeans. Gardaí did not have a description for the second man.

No arrests have been made in the case. Gardaí at Kilmainham Garda station have called for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information to contact the station at 01-6669700, or the Garda confidential line at 1800-666-111, or any garda station.

The newly-appointed chairman of the joint policing committee in Dublin, Fianna Fáil councillor Daithí De Róiste, said these gangland-style shootings were becoming a weekly occurrence in the city.

“This is just the latest in a long line of shootings and it was lucky that no one was killed,” he said. “It’s a sad state of affairs when people just accept it as normal and say “oh no one was killed so we’ll just move on,” he said.

“But people have to realise that men rammed a car and fired a shotgun in a very densely-populated area. These things are just way too common place and people aren’t even taking notice anymore. It was the fourth attempt on this guy’s life and it’s just a case of “move along, nothing to see here”.”

The man was previously shot and injured in Clondalkin and another attempt was made on his life in Tallaght. A third attempt in the south inner city was aborted after gardaí were seen in the area.