Girl, three, avoids injury in gun attack on father
This is the second time the man, known to gardaí, was shot in less than five months.
The girl and her father, aged 25, had arrived at their Coolock apartment around 10pm on Wednesday when the shooting happened.
Superintendent Noel McLoughlin, of Coolock Garda Station, said; “It appears that he got out of the car and was approached by at least one man and was shot in the right leg.”
He said a number of other shots hit the car and car doors as well as two other vehicles parked in the apartment complex at Castle Elms on the Greencastle Road.
“Luckily his daughter wasn’t hurt. She got out of the car with him but ran towards the apartment. She wasn’t injured,” said Supt McLoughlin, who added that the man was brought to Beaumont Hospital.
“His injuries are minor. He was lucky, the bullet might have hit vital organs or bones,” the superintendent said.
Gardaí based at the nearby Coolock Garda Station were at the scene within minutes of neighbours in the apartment complex ringing the emergency services.
Gardaí said the gunman escaped in a waiting car driven by a second person. The car is described as a red Nissan Skyline, with a spoiler on the rear.
“A similar car was found burnt out two miles away in the Coolock area. We believe it may have been stolen in February, but that has to be confirmed. It’s quite a distinctive car, with a distinctive spoiler - sporty, and low to the ground,” said Supt McLoughlin.
He appealed to anyone who may have seen the car to come forward. The victim is understood to be helping detectives with their inquiries.
The man is known to gardaí and is believed to be the victim of a previous shooting at his home last November.
Officers were conducting house-to-house inquiries yesterday to build up a picture of what happened and a description of the attackers.
Any person with information is asked to contact Coolock Garda Station on 01-666-4200 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1-800-666-111. Meanwhile, gardaí in Coolock are making “good progress” in their investigation into the murder of a Latvian youth in Artane on 15 February last.
Gardaí believe 25-year-old Romans Panteleimons was stabbed by a gang of Latvians who were extorting money from him.
Three Latvians have so far been arrested and have cooperated with investigations. Gardaí believe the killers are still in the country.
