Woman watches in horror as gunmen shoot boyfriend in head

A YOUNG woman watched in horror as her boyfriend was shot in the head in their flat late on Tuesday night.

William O’Regan was shot at least once by a gunman using a shotgun and was fighting for his life in Dublin’s Mater Hospital last night.

Gardaí are hunting the two who wore masks and fled from the New Cabra Road flat shortly after 10pm. They are believed to have made their getaway in a car, later found burnt out in a laneway off Charleville Road.

Informed sources said Mr O’Regan, aged 39, who is known to gardaí, may be the latest victim of a gangland purge on informants, although, officially, investigators are saying they have yet to establish a motive. There have been a number of shootings of individuals facing gangland accusations that they were garda informants.

Gardaí want to speak to anyone who saw two individuals acting suspiciously in the area between 10pm and 10.30pm on Tuesday.

The gunmen entered the complex and are believed to have known exactly where to find Mr O’Regan’s apartment.

They entered the flat and shot him a number of times. As the gunmen fled, neighbours rushed to help and comfort the injured man’s distraught girlfriend. Mr O’Regan is originally from Finglas.

Gardaí yesterday carried out a forensic examination of the scene, a block of around 12 flats in a converted house.