Man critical after spate of shootings

GARDAÍ in a Dublin suburb are investigating three separate shootings in 48 hours which left three youths injured.

Detectives say two of the victims were lucky to be alive after what was a double murder attempt.

Two victims are aged 19, one is aged 20 and all live near to each other in the Fortlawn area of Clonsilla.

In a third incident, shots were fired into the home of a young couple and their four young children in nearby Sheepmore, but no one was injured.

“We are certainly looking into whether the incidents are connected. In the last 48 hours, we have had three shootings. The people injured live in close proximity to each other,” said Detective Inspector Brian Sherry of Blanchardstown Station.

At 10.30pm on Thursday, two young men, named locally as Andrew Byrne, 20, and Sean Delaney, 19, were shot outside Mountview Shopping Centre in Clonsilla by masked assailants.

Delaney narrowly missed being killed and received very serious head injuries. He was in a critical condition in hospital last night.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone in the vicinity of the Mountview shopping centre between 10pm and 10.30pm to contact them at Blanchardstown Station at 01-6667000.

At 9pm the same night, a 19-year-old woman received gunshot wounds to her legs as she walked towards Mulhuddart Village. Her injuries were not life-threatening.

The shooting incident in Sheepmore Crescent happened in the early hours of Wednesday.

Gardaí are investigating possible motives, including theories that the attacks were related anti-social behaviour or drug-related.

Det Insp Sherry said intimidation was stopping witnesses giving statements.