Gardaí hope to interview suspected bicycle shooting gunman today

Gardaí investigating a shooting in which the victim and suspected gunman were both wounded are hoping to interview two men today.

The suspect, who accidentally shot himself in the foot and lower leg before continuing with his plans to shoot his target, was being kept under surveillance in Dublin’s Mater hospital last night.

His injuries are not life-threatening and Garda sources said when medical staff give them clearance to interview the man they will arrest him and question him under caution.

“We are hoping it will be in the next day or two but it could be longer,” said one source.

The victim, Charlie O’Neill (52), Balcurris Ave, Ballymun, north Dublin, is in Beaumont hospital. While he was wounded in the stomach with a shotgun blast, his life is not in danger.

Gardaí believe the suspect, a 31-year-old from Finglas in north Dublin, knew Mr O’Neill, had studied his regular movements and was waiting to ambush him on Monday morning.

Personal row
Detectives believe the shooting may be linked to a personal row in which Mr O'Neill, a convicted criminal, was embroiled and that the gunman may have carried out the attack on behalf of a third party.

Mr O’Neill was shot at 8.20am at the entrance to the laneway between Glasnevin Avenue and Hillcrest Park. He managed to crawl a short distance into the front garden of a nearby house looking for help.

When gardaí arrived, the suspected gunman had cycled a short distance away before collapsing at Hillcrest Park.

Both men were on push bikes and the shotgun used in the attack was found at the scene.

Gardaí believe the suspect had the shotgun hidden in his tracksuit bottoms and when he tried to take it out to prepare to shoot Mr O’Neill the gun accidentally discharged.

However, despite being wounded the suspect was not deterred and set about shooting Mr O’Neill as planned, before trying to cycle off again.

“It looks like he didn’t realise how badly he was wounded and he thought he’d get away, but he couldn’t continue on the bike,” said one source.

Daily routine
The same source said Mr O'Neill cycled the same route early each morning and that whoever shot him had accurate information on his daily routine.

Meanwhile, gardaí investigating the unrelated shooting of Dean Johnson in west Dublin in the early hours of Saturday morning are not expected to release his remains to his family for burial until the end of the week.

Mr Johnson (21), from the Greenfort area of Clondalkin, was fatally wounded at 12.20am on Saturday at Harelawn Green, not far from where he lived.

The gunman shot him in the upper body and then fired more than 10 shots into him as he stood over the victim.

Gardaí are trying to establish if a gang fight he was involved in late last week is connected to his murder.

Intended target
The family of the dead man, who had only minor convictions, have said a man known to Mr Johnson has contacted them and told them he believed he was the intended target of the gunman.

A source close to the family said they are convinced Mr Johnson was mistaken for an associate and shot dead as a result.

Garda sources have said the investigation into the murder is still at a very early stage and that all avenues are being explored.