Burned-out car may be linked to killing
The torched Honda Civic was found at Waterfall, less than two miles from the house in Ballincollig where 29-year-old Eric Cummins was shot dead on Saturday night.
Cummins, who was known to gardaí, has been described as a major player in the local drugs scene.
The car fitted the description given by local teenagers of the getaway car used by the gunman.
Supt Tom Hayes said investigations would now focus in on the suspect car and its movements before and after the attack.
Searches took place in the rural area where the car was found. House-to-house enquiries are expected to get underway in that area soon.
Garda technical experts concluded their examination of the shooting scene in Oldcourt yesterday afternoon. A ballistics expert also recovered some bullet casings for examination.
The results of a post-mortem examination were not released yesterday for “operational reasons”.
Supt Hayes from Gurranabraher, and Det Supt Tony Quilter, from Anglesea St, are leading a team of 40 gardaí and detectives hunting for the gunman.
Supt Hayes remained tight-lipped about possible motives for the killing.
“Our enquires are continuing. We still have a very open mind on this attack,” Supt Hayes said.
“We’re looking at everything. It’s still very early days in the investigation.”
He described the gunman as being 6ft tall and of an athletic build.
“I would ask anyone who saw anything unusual in the Ballincollig and Waterfall areas between 6pm and 11pm on Saturday to contact the garda,” he said.
Mr Cummins, his partner, Michelle Cunningham, and their 18-month child, Eddie Jnr, had just arrived at their rented home at 10pm on Saturday when the gunman struck. Mr Cummins was shot a number of times at close range in the head and chest.
The gunman had been waiting in a parked car with another man in nearby Fernwalk Estate. He got out of the car and collected a handgun from the bushes.
Mr Cummins was the only son of Edward and May Cummins. He is survived by his sisters, Lorraine, Catherine and Yvonne.
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