Two still held over Blanchardstown shooting

A man and a woman are still being questioned over the fatal shooting of a man in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, on Saturday night…

A man and a woman are still being questioned over the fatal shooting of a man in Blanchardstown, west Dublin, on Saturday night.

Gardaí investigating the first gangland murder of the year believe the man being questioned last night was one of two men who shot Dara McCormack (21) of Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown.

The manner in which these killings are being carried out is putting the general public at risk
Labour Party justice spokesman Joe Costello

Detectives are continuing to search for a second man.

The woman being detained is the partner of one of the suspected gunmen. She is being questioned about the possession of the shotgun used in the murder.

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Gardaí believe the murder was linked to the drugs trade. However, the victim was not a known criminal.

Labour Party justice spokesman Joe Costello called for a sustained, high-powered, and intensive war against gangs following the murder.

"The December announcement by the Garda Commissioner of a 50-strong dedicated unit to tackle the gun gangs has clearly not had the desired impact," he said.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keefe said the gangland crisis needs to be met head on by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.

"Violent criminals clearly feel they can act with impunity and mete out their own vengeance without regard for the consequences. This development was clearly signalled by the 46 per cent increase in murders last year, yet Minister McDowell appears helpless in the face of this staggering rise.

"There is still no sign of the Minister getting the amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill 2004 on to the Statute Books . . . and the gardaü/span>? continue to be poorly resourced and understaffed," he said.