GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING Dublin’s latest gangland murder are hopeful forensic testing on a gun, gloves and jacket found near the crime scene will yield fingerprint or DNA evidence that could help solve the case.
Detectives have drawn up a shortlist of suspects for the double shooting which includes former members of the gang once led by murdered Finglas man Martin “Marlo” Hyland. CCTV footage from cameras close to the murder scene is also being studied.
The dead man, Michael Cronin (35), originally from Ballymun, died at the Mater hospital less than an hour after the shooting in Dublin’s north inner city at 8.40pm on Wednesday. The other man wounded in the shooting is still alive in St James’s Hospital but is in a very serious condition.
Both men were shot as they sat in the front seats of a sports car at Langrishe Place, off Summerhill, in Dublin’s inner city. The killer was known to the victims and was sitting in the back seat when he opened fire.
Cronin was wounded once in the back of the head and his associate was wounded at least twice in the back of the head.
After the shooting the car carrying the wounded men rolled out on to Summerhill, crashing into barriers on the central median. People witnessed the killer getting out of the back of the UK-registered black Volvo. He ran across the main Summerhill Road, jumped the crash barriers and ran into Gloucester Place. Gardaí are unsure if he continued his escape on foot or if he was picked up by a vehicle.
A Magnum 357 revolver was found thrown under a car at Gloucester Diamond. A coat with gloves was also found hanging on railings. Gardaí believe all of the items were discarded by the killer.
Witnesses have said the man was not wearing the gloves when he ran from the car. Gardaí are hopeful an examination of the gun will yield fingerprint evidence that will lead them to the killer.
Gardaí believe Cronin was likely to have been lured to the murder scene on the pretence of talks with a criminal contact. Cronin was a convicted heroin dealer. A number of attempts had been made on his life since his release from a 10-year prison sentence four years ago.
The investigation is based at Fitzgibbon Street Garda station and led by Chief Supt Pat Leahy and Supt John Ward. The investigating team comprises members of the north central division and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Supt John Gilligan, the head of the Garda Press Office, said the killer was of normal build and about 172.72cm (5ft 8in) to 177.80cm (5ft 10in). He was wearing “sports gear” or a tracksuit, with a silver design. Gardaí want to speak to anybody who saw the car – registration FD54 CEY – in the area or being driven anywhere on Wednesday evening. He urged anybody who saw a man running in the area at about the time of the attack to come forward. Gardaí in Fitzgibbon Street can be contacted on 01-6668400.