Gardai have described as "speculation" reports that the murder of an Inchicore man on Saturday was connected to a feud between a local gang and the Irish National Liberation Army.
Mr Pat Neville (31) was on his way to work at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday when he was shot on the stairwell of Block 8 of St Michael's estate in Inchicore in south Dublin. His body was found by an employee of Dublin Corporation who acts as a caretaker on the estate, which is affected by a serious heroin problem.
Mr Neville lived in the estate with his girlfriend and their children. He was on his way to work as a doorman in a city-centre pub when he was shot in the stairwell.
Garda sources say he was known to local gardai, but is not thought to have had any convictions.
The murder scene was sealed off on Saturday morning for forensic examination. A post-mortem was carried out that evening by the Chief State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison.
A Garda spokesman would not confirm reports that detectives believe Mr Neville's death was linked to the murder of an INLA member, Patrick Campbell, in Ballymount Industrial Estate in October.
Mr Campbell (22) was attacked with a machete and clubs at the industrial estate and died of his injuries. He was from Ballymurphy in west Belfast, but had been living in Blanchardstown in west Dublin for a year.
Mr Campbell was killed after an INLA gang took a number of local criminals prisoner in an industrial unit on the estate. Up to six locals were held prisoner, stripped naked and severely beaten by the INLA gang.
Mr Neville is reported to have been in a group who arrived and overpowered the INLA group.
About 1,000 people attended Mr Campbell's funeral, which had full paramilitary trappings. At least six men were subsequently charged in connection with the gang fight. A man was charged with Mr Campbell's murder.
The garda leading the investigation, Det Supt P.J. Browne of the Dublin South Central division, appealed for anyone with information about the killing to come forward.
"This was a tragic and brutal incident, and a full murder inquiry is under way," was all that Det Supt Browne would say about the incident yesterday.
An incident room has been set up in Kevin Street Garda station. Gardai are asking people to contact them at (01) 666-9432 or (01) 666-9434 and on the Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111.
e-mail: rosullivan@irish-times.ie
