Two men in custody after shoot-out with gardaí

TWO young men remained in custody last night as detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding a shoot-out with gardaí in Dublin at the weekend.

Gardaí chased a car containing four people who they believe may have been about to carry out a gangland shooting. Shots were fired at the patrol car from a pump-action shotgun while detectives who joined in the chase fired off one round, forcing the occupants of the car to abandon it in the Bluebell district of Inchicore and flee on foot.

Two people, aged 18 and 22, were arrested in follow-up searches while a pump-action shotgun was recovered. Two other suspects are being sought by gardaí. The two arrested men were last night questioned under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.

There have been a number of gangland-connected shootings in South Dublin in recent months. It is not believed there is any one particular feud going on, rather a series of disputes.

These involve a number of gangs of very young criminals, who are carving out their own areas to supply drugs from Drimnagh and Crumlin into the south inner city. They are heavily involved in the lucrative and growing market for cocaine.

Just before midnight on Saturday, the garda patrol car, following a suspicious vehicle, was rammed and then fired at. Joined by a second patrol car and with help from a garda helicopter, the car was chased into the Bernard Curtis flat complex, where the occupants fled after dumping the vehicle.