Drug dealer gunman shot in gangland killing
The body of Shay Bradley, 27, who was known to gardaí as a drug dealer and gunman, was discovered shortly after midday in a Dublin laneway off Blackhorse Avenue in Cabra, near the Phoenix Park.
It was the second violent killing in the capital in less than a week. On Sunday last, Donna Cleary, a woman in her 20s, was gunned down in her home in the Coolock area.
Bradley was shot at least three times in a gang-style killing. Earlier this year Dara McCormack, 22, from Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown was killed near his home over a €1,000 cocaine debt to a drug gang.
Residents in Blackhorse Avenue were stunned by news of yesterday’s shooting. Mary Pemberton, who lives close to where the killing took place, was visibly shaken as she commented: “It was so close to me. I got a terrible shock.”
A native of Derry, Bradley was charged with four gun offences last year after two men walked into the Polly Hops pub, Newcastle, Co Dublin, and shot a customer. Bradley and his associates had mistakenly shot an innocent person, who had moved to the place previously occupied by the targeted victim.
The gang later caught up with the intended victim and he was shot and killed in the Wicklow Mountains.
Gardaí believe Bradley was involved in the planning, targeting and shooting at the pub on September 28. Two men had carried out that shooting. He had been charged with firearms offences following the pub shooting.
Bradley was caught when he crashed the getaway car. A loaded .357 Magnum pistol was also recovered at the crash scene the next day.
Gardaí, who are trying to find a motive for the killing, are attempting to establish when it took place. Detectives said they were investigating a number of lines of inquiry, including links to drug dealing in the capital.
Gardaí appealed for anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity along Blackhorse Avenue between 7.30pm on Thursday to midday yesterday to contact them at Cabra station where an incident room has been set up. The telephone number is 01-6667400.
Gardaí also issued a fresh appeal to the public and taxi drivers who were in the Coolock area on the night of Donna Cleary’s murder last weekend.
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