Garda∅ last night identified the man shot dead in Tallaght, Dublin, on St Stephen's Day as a 48-year-old married man with children who was living in the area. His name was not due to be released until this morning, however, as relatives had yet to be informed.
Detectives investigating the shooting believe the man, who was originally from the Ballyfermot area, may have been murdered as part of a personal vendetta.
He was shot three times at close range while walking through the centre of Tallaght village. Within hours of the incident, garda∅ arrested two men and a woman in the Tallaght area. They remained in custody at Tallaght Garda station last night.
A number of firearms were seized at the scene of the arrests.
A post-mortem examination on the man's body was carried out at Tallaght Hospital yesterday by the State Pathologist, Prof John Harbison, following the launch of a full-scale murder inquiry.
An incident room has been set up at Tallaght Garda station, and yesterday the scene remained sealed off for forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.
Garda∅ renewed their appeal last night for anyone who might be able to assist with the investigation to come forward.
The shooting occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on Old Blessington Road, a busy shopping street just 500 yards from the Garda station. The man was walking along the street when a blue Peugeot 206 car drove up alongside him and two men got out.
One of them opened fire at point-blank range and then returned to the car with the other assailant where a driver was waiting to aid their escape. The car was located by garda∅ yesterday.
Supt Michael Byrnes of Tallaght Garda station said "there was not as many people as there would normally be in the village" at the time of the shooting. Despite this, he said, several people did witness the incident and their statements had been of "great assistance".
He appealed for further witnesses to come forward or anyone who might be able to assist with the identification of the gunmen. It appeared the assailants made no attempt to disguise their identities with no reports of balaclavas or masks being used.
"We'd like to hear from anyone in the vicinity of the village and particularly Belgard Road and the Tallaght High Street and Main Street area, between 7 p.m. and 7.15 p.m."
He added the investigation was at a "very early stage" and a motive had yet to be identified.
Garda sources, however, later suggested the man may have been murdered by persons who held a grudge against him. They said detectives were following a definite line of inquiry.
Three people, all with Tallaght addresses, were arrested at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday. They were held under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, which allows them to be held for up to 72 hours.
Supt Byrnes described the murder as a "callous act", adding: "It is a most unusual incident to occur, in the evening time on a busy street. We haven't had anything like this in a long, long time and hopefully it's not the start of something."
Anyone with information is asked to contact garda∅ in Tallaght at (01) 666 6000, or any Garda station.
