Gardaí appeal to witness who saw ‘heinous crime’

The senior garda leading the investigation into the murder of 16-year-old Melanie McCarthy described the killing as a “particularly heinous crime”.

Chief Supt John Manley appealed to the community in Tallaght to “reflect” and “take a step back”.

He expressed “every confidence” gardaí would solve the killing of the settled Traveller — thought to be one of the youngest victims of gang crime in Dublin.

Melanie McCarthy, who also used her mother’s surname, McNamara, was a rear seat passenger in a car which stopped on Brookview Way, Brookfield, Tallaght.

There were three other people in the Nissan Almera, including her 21-year-old boyfriend, who was also in the back of the car.

Gardaí said that, at around 10.35pm, a waiting 4x4 — a black Hyundai Sante Fe — pulled up parallel with the Almera and a gunman took out a shotgun.

Garda sources said that when the Almera tried to move off two shots were fired into the car, one hitting Melanie in the head.

Neighbours told the Irish Examiner that both cars sped off but that they competed with each other to drive down Brookview Way which only had space for single traffic.

One neighbour said someone was in a car behind the Almera at the time of the attack and “saw everything” and had reversed back the opposite direction.

Gardaí are trying to trace this driver, along with any other residents or passersby who saw anything.

Melanie’s friends drove the Almera to Tallaght Hospital, but Melanie, from nearby Drumcairn Avenue in Fettercairn, was pronounced dead at 1.15am.

Gardaí said the jeep was driven along Fortunestown Lane towards Citywest and abandoned near Brown’s Barn off the Naas Road.

The 4x4 — which was stolen and had false 07D plates — was not burned out and gardaí experts are examining it.

Gardaí said they suspect the jeep had been in the Brookview area for a time, possibly up to half an hour, before the attack and believe locals may have seen it.

Melanie’s family said yesterday that they believe the murder was the result of a set-up. They said one of the people who was in the Almera with Melanie got a call saying his house on Brookview Way had a rock thrown at it.

As soon as they arrived, they were attacked. Gardaí are investigating this theory.

In a strong appeal, Chief Manley said: “This was a particularly heinous crime, involving a young girl aged 16 years of age.

“I would appeal to the community to reflect on this and to take a step back and to provide whatever assistance they can give us to investigate this crime.

“We need to bring the culprit of this terrible crime to justice and I’ve every confidence we will do that.”

* Contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 6666056.