Gardaí seek motive as teen injured in drive-by shooting

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy was hit in the back in a random drive-by shooting in Cork city centre yesterday.

Gardaí were last night trying to establish a motive for the attack, which took place in a narrow lane in Blackpool after 2pm, but there was speculation the shooting was linked to a row between two local families.

A shot was fired from the back window of a black Mondeo which stopped at the entrance to Farren Lane on Gerald Griffin Street.

The gunman fired one shot up the narrow lane and hit the boy, who was standing with two friends against a wall, around 80 feet away.

He was hit in the back and side, suffering superficial pellet wounds.

The graffiti-laden wall was sprayed with pellets.

The boy was rushed by ambulance to the Mercy Hospital’s accident and emergency unit, where his condition was described last night as comfortable.

Forensic experts carried out a thorough examination of the scene, and the gunman’s car was found abandoned near Watergrasshill.

Superintendent Martin Shanahan, of Mayfield Garda Station, is leading the investigation. He held a conference with senior detectives last night, but wouldn’t speculate on the motive for the shooting.

The lane has been the subject of numerous complaints of anti-social behaviour in recent weeks.

It is believed the youth is related to a family living on the lane, but it is not known if he was the intended victim of the attack.

The lane is used as a lunchtime shortcut by students from the nearby North Monastery and St Vincent’s secondary schools, to Murphy’s chipper.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station at [phone], or Watercourse Road Garda Station at [phone].