Man dies after suspected accidental shooting in Finglas

Gardaí believe deceased’s associate may have removed gun from scene

The 26-year-old victim, who previously had links to organised crime in the Finglas area, was found lying in a pool of blood on Mellows Avenue at 8pm on Thursday. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
The 26-year-old victim, who previously had links to organised crime in the Finglas area, was found lying in a pool of blood on Mellows Avenue at 8pm on Thursday. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA

A Dublin man who suffered a gunshot wound in Finglas last week has died in hospital.

The 26-year-old, who previously had links to organised crime in the Finglas area, was found lying in a pool of blood on Mellows Avenue at 8pm on Thursday. He had a severe wound to the back of his head and was taken to Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, where he was placed on life support.

There was initially confusion as to how he received the wound as there was no other evidence of a firearm being used. On Friday, a Garda spokesman described the man being found with “unexplained head injuries”.

However, it is understood gardaí and medical staff are satisfied he was shot in the back of the head, in what is suspected to have been an accidental discharge.

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No firearm has been recovered and no arrests have been made. It is suspected the man shot himself accidentally while filming a mobile phone video, and that an associate may have disposed of the firearm.

The victim was previously an associate of a major organised crime group operating in the Finglas area and was once warned by gardaí that his life was in danger.

Postmortem

His life support was turned off on Monday, the Garda said. A postmortem is due to be carried out shortly which gardaí say will determine the course of the investigation.

"The Office of the State Pathologist has been informed and the remains will be removed this afternoon, Monday, November 15th, 2021, to the city morgue, Whitehall, where a postmortem will be carried out tomorrow, Tuesday, November 16th, by Dr Linda Mulligan, Chief State Pathologist," the Garda said in a statement.

“The results of the postmortem will determine the course of the investigation into the as yet unexplained injuries suffered by the deceased.”

The Garda continue to appeal for witnesses, including “any person who was in the vicinity of Mellowes Avenue, Mellowes Road, Kildonan Road or Cardiffsbridge Road between 7.30pm and 8pm on November 11th, 2021, particularly any person or driver with dashcam or other video footage.

Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher is Crime and Security Correspondent of The Irish Times