Man may be victim of random attack
The gunman entered the south inner city pub through a rear door and fired off one round from a shotgun.
One source said it appeared the gunman did not care who he hit.
A 67-year-old man enjoying a drink with friends was struck a number of times in the upper body and head as the cartridge split on impact, spreading pellets. The man was said to be a comfortable condition in hospital following the shooting at Cleary’s Bar, Inchicore, shortly after 9pm on Monday evening.
The bar on Sarsfield Road was reasonably busy as many regulars had gathered to watch a Premiership football match. Some of the customers, caught up in the match, thought the bang following the shot was the result of children playing with firecrackers.
The gunman was described as young, over 6ft and wearing blue jeans. His head was partially covered.
Gardaí investigating the shooting said it was not the normal type of targeted attack usually associated with gangland shootings. Sources said it was the investigation was at an early stage and a motive has still not been established.
The gunman ran out the same door through which he entered and gardaí have appealed for witnesses in the Sarsfield Road area around 9pm to come forward.
Meanwhile, a man appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of a former champion boxer who was stabbed to death at a flat complex in Dublin’s inner city.
Anthony Burke, 32, of Cloncarty Road in Donnycarney was charged at Kilmainham District Court with the murder of Joseph Sutcliffe earlier this month. Mr Burke said nothing during the brief court appearance and was remanded in custody to appear again next Tuesday at Clover Hill District Court.
Mr Sutcliffe, 32, was fatally wounded after being stabbed once in the stomach during a violent row in the early hours of Sunday 13 October.
Mr Sutcliffe was a member of one of Dublin’s most famous boxing families and collected five Irish underage titles before the age of 16. But he gave up boxing at a young age and fell into a life of crime and drugs. He spent much of his adult life in and out of jail.
His brother Phillip, 43, was an Irish international boxer and Olympian. He was twice a bronze medal winner in the European championships.
