DETECTIVES from every unit in the Dublin Metropolitan area are engaged in the investigation into the murder of journalist Ms Veronica Guerin. More than 100 gardai have been assigned to the case.
A crime conference at Lucan Garda station yesterday morning was attended by over 50 detectives. A later meeting was attended by inspectors, superintendents and detective inspectors from every Garda district in the capital.
A Garda Press Office spokesman said the Garda was following up hundreds of lines of inquiry as a result of information received from the public. A mobile Garda station has been set up near the site where the journalist was shot on the Naas dual carriageway so that people who live nearby and passing motorists can offer information.
Gardai believe the gunmen may have followed her from Naas where she had appeared in the District Court on a speeding charge. They want anybody who may have seen the two men on the motorcycle to make contact.
The preliminary results of the post mortem examination show that Ms Guerin died of shock and haemorrhage from gunshot wounds, up to five, all to the upper body. Three of the shots were grouped close to her heart. She would have died in less than a minute. All of the wounds were serious and any of the bullets could have killed her.
The shots were fired at close range and the window of her car, which may have been slightly open at the time of the shooting was shattered. Gardai confirmed the weapon was a high powered revolver, possibly a .357 Magnum or a .38 calibre weapon.
Witness accounts differ as to whether the gunman, travelling as a pillion passenger on the white coloured motorcycle, remained on the bike as he shot Ms Guerin.
It is not thought the attackers removed anything from the car. "If they were looking for anything it would have been Veronica's filofax but they didn't take it" said an investigating garda.
Gardai are still searching for the motorcycle used in the attack. The Garda spokesman said the Investigation will look at a number of suspects. "It would be a mistake to focus too narrowly. Of course there are certain suspects but you have to look at the large picture because of all the different stories that Veronica was involved in."
A garda who knew Ms Guerin said she did not have bullet proof glass in her car because she felt there were only so many precautions she could take.
A number of security measures had been introduced at her north county Dublin home including flood lighting, security cameras, an alarm system and a panic button.
"Veronica accepted that she was at risk but she knew there were only so many precautions she could take. She was a pragmatist rather than a fatalist", the garda said.
The Garda wants anyone with information to contact the incident room at Lucan Garda Station, Co Dublin, 01 621 9310.