A Finglas man who accidentally shot and almost killed an eight-year-old boy when he was shooting at birds with a pellet gun has been sentenced to four years by Judge Patricia Ryan.

GARDAÍ are bracing themselves for retaliation after a serious criminal escaped death in one of four shootings in Dublin in little over 12 hours.

A nationwide gun amnesty is to be held in the autumn, it was confirmed today after a spate of shootings in Dublin left five people injured.

GARDAÍ have dealt a serious blow to a major drugs gang after they seized half a tonne of cannabis in north Co Dublin.