A man remains in custody over a gun death in north Dublin after he handed himself in to gardaí this morning.
Detectives are investigating if the victim, who was in his 40s, was killed accidentally in a Santry apartment by friends who were holding a weapon for a criminal. A postmortem today confirmed the victim died from gun wounds.
He was shot dead in his home at a gated apartment complex at The Green, Larch Hill off the Oscar Traynor Road last night. A handgun was recovered in bushes near the property.
A Garda source said a man in his 50s went to visit a local priest before handing himself in for questioning. He was arrested and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Ballymun Garda Station where he can be held for up to seven days.
The victim's body was discovered by local officers at about 10.30pm last night responding to reports of two shots being fired. It is understood gardaí had to break down the front door, which had been closed, and found the victim in the third floor apartment inside. He died at the scene.
There were reports of a number of men running, or fleeing on bicycles, from the scene shortly after the gunfire was heard.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who was in the general area of the apartments between 7pm and 11pm last night to contact them at Santry Garda station on 01 666 4000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Residents reported a party had been going on last night in the apartment block were the shooting took place.
David Stone, who lives behind the block where the man was shot, said there had been a party in the building before Garda patrol cars and an ambulance sped in to the complex. “A few things happen around here like cars being stolen,” he said. “I’m just surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”
He said the night security man at the front gate of the development was often harassed by people getting in. “He’s been pulled out of that security office a few times, he’s been harassed when he’s sitting in his box,” he added. “There are a lot of rented places here.”
It is the fourth gun death in the capital in the past five weeks.
Liam Kenny (53) was fatally shot on June 9th by a gang of armed and masked men at his house on Shancastle Avenue, Clondalkin, west Dublin.
Michael Taylor (53), from Summerhill died from injuries received after being shot four times in a north Co Dublin caravan park over the June bank holiday weekend.
Paul McCarthy (19) was shot dead in Myra Close, Inchicore, south Dublin, on Monday, May 9th.
Additional reporting: PA