Seized gun was meant for reprisal attack, say gardaí

GARDAÍ BELIEVE a gun seized in Clondalkin early on Saturday morning was to be used in a reprisal attack. The seizure of a loaded shotgun and the arrest of two men followed the murder on Friday night of 25-year-old Pierce Reid of Lealand Close.

The shooting of Mr Reid is believed to be connected to two separate shootings in mid-July and part of a continuing feud between two west Dublin gangs.

Mr Reid was shot in the head a number of times as he lay on the ground outside his home late on Friday night. Within hours shots were fired at the door and windows of a house in nearby Lealand Avenue. Nobody was injured in the later incident.

Unarmed gardaí on patrol in the vicinity later gave chase to two men who were acting suspiciously and recovered the shotgun and ammunition. The two men in their 20s were arrested under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act

A BMW 5 series car, which was believed to have been used by the killers of Mr Reid, was later found abandoned. Gardaí said it had been stolen earlier in the week and they appealed for anyone who had seen the metallic grey vehicle in the area to come forward.

“This is believed to be a very localised incident involving people from the immediate locality or broader Clondalkin area,” said a Garda spokesman.

Mr Reid was a father of one and was expecting his second child at the time of his killing. Gardaí said the victim was well known to them and they are following a definite line of inquiry.

Mr Reid was the 21st person to die this year in what is believed to be gang-related feuding involving Dublin criminals. Two men who died had been followed to Spain and killed there.

Gardaí believe the guns used in many of the killings have been purchased in eastern Europe. Gardaí also said they know of instances where the killers go to eastern Europe to get training in how to operate the weapons.

Dublin Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell has criticised the Czech authorities in particular for the ease with which weapons and training can be had. He urged the European Commission to clamp down on Irish criminals availing of such service and getting firearms training in the Czech Republic and other EU countries.

According to the MEP it is unacceptable that criminals with, as he put it, “murder on their minds”, are able to hone their shooting skills in other EU member states.

Meanwhile, gardaí have renewed their appeal for information on the killing of Wayne Doherty (32) who was shot outside his parents’ house at Oakview Way, Hartstown, west Dublin, at 11.30pm on Saturday, July 4th.

Gardaí would like to talk to members of the public, particularly taxi men, who may have been in the area at the time. The suspects for the killing have so far evaded gardaí.

Gardaí believe the fatal shooting was linked to a row at a Christening party in a pub in Co Meath earlier on July 4th.

Mr Doherty was outside his parents’ home at Oakview Way with his brother and sister when the killers approached in two cars.