Gardaí investigating the shooting dead of a young mother in Dublin believe they know the identity of her killers. The dead woman was last night named as 22-year-old Donna Cleary, Castlekevin Road, Coolock.
She leaves behind a three-year-old-son Clayton. Ms Cleary worked as a canteen assistant for Irish Ferries and was not involved in any form of criminal activity.
Senior gardaí said she was "simply in the wrong place at the wrong time" when a gunman opened fire just after 2.30am yesterday at a house on Adare Green, Coolock, where she was attending a 40th birthday party.
Chief Supt Peter Maguire of Coolock Garda station described the murder as horrific saying it the worst he had seen in more than 30 years in the force.
"It's the most horrific incident, it's the worst that's ever happened in my time."
Supt Noel McLoughlin added that the murder of Ms Cleary had evoked a similar public outcry in Coolock to the murder of 17-year-old Alan Higgins who was stabbed to death for his mobile telephone outside a local cinema in 2002.
Another senior officer said he and his colleagues had been shocked by the gunman's willingness to open fire on a crowded house over what appeared to be a very minor issue.
"This is a young mother from a very respected and hard working family from the area. It really was a savage and inhumane attack over a very trivial matter."
Up to 50 guests had returned to the house at Adare Green to continue an earlier party which had taken place at Innish Fails GAA Club, Dublin.
A group of up to four men called and tried to gain entry to the house party at around 2am. They were refused but warned that they would return.
Gardaí believe the men left the scene, got a gun, and returned to Adare Green in a silver car. They believe one of the men got out of the car and indiscriminately fired five or six shots from a pistol into the downstairs of the house.
Ms Cleary was fatally wounded in the upper body by at least one of the shots. She was taken by ambulance to nearby Beaumont hospital where she was pronounced dead at about 4am.
Ms Cleary's killing was the second gun murder in the Republic this year.
In the early hours of yesterday morning detectives spoke to a number of people who were at the party at Adare Green. A series of longer interviews took place throughout yesterday at Coolock Garda station and at the homes of those at the party.
Some of those interviewed have been able to identify the group of men refused entry to the party. The investigation is now focusing on these men.
Gardaí last night stressed that while the shooting was in the style of a gangland killing it was not drug related and was not linked to any feud. They believe the men involved simply had access to a gun and felt sufficiently aggrieved to use it after being refused entry to the party.
Gardaí are determined to solve the murder quickly and a team of 50 detectives from Coolock, Santry and Clontarf Garda stations and from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been assigned to the case.
Gardaí immediately sealed off the scene and a full examination was carried out yesterday by the Garda Technical Bureau. The Assistant State Pathologist Dr Declan Gilsenan carried out a postmortem yesterday.
Gardai will study CCTV footage from cameras at Dublin City Council buildings and the Coolock Civic Centre, which are close to the murder scene.
Gardaí are anxious to speak to anybody who witnessed the shooting or who may have seen a group of men going to and from the scene between 2am and 3am. Witnesses are asked to contact Coolock Garda station at (01) 6664200.