Father slain in his car after school run

GARDAÍ in north Dublin are concerned about a rise in gun murders after the third fatal gun attack on the capital’s northside this year, took place yesterday.

The murder in Edenmore Avenue, Raheny, brings to ten the number of people shot dead in the country this year.

Seven of those killings are considered to be gangland-related.

The victim of yesterday’s attack was named locally as Paddy Harte, 42, a father of two grown-up children, originally from Finglas.

Neighbours in Edenmore Avenue yesterday said they knew little about the victim, who he had only been living there for around a year.

It’s believed Mr Harte was staying with his partner and her four children at a rented house in the cul-de-sac.

It’s understood he parked his car outside the house at around 8.45am — after he two of his partner’s children off to school.

Mr Harte himself has two grown-up children, aged in their late teens or early 20s. His wife died a number of years ago.

Finglas sources said Mr Harte lived near Cardiffsbridge, Finglas, for many years and had a van shop at the side of his house.

They said they did not know of his dealings, but claimed Mr Harte was sometimes seen in the company of serious criminals.

Gardaí suspect his attacker, or attackers, may have been waiting for him. A gunman approached the driver’s window and fired three shots at Mr Harte.

The attacker may have escaped on a motorbike, perhaps driven by an accomplice. A motorbike was seen leaving the area at speed.

“Clearly this was a callous shooting. He was shot dead going about his business,” said Detective Superintendent Michael Byrne, who is leading the investigation.

He appealed to people who may have seen strangers in the area to come forward.

“We’re looking for anybody who was in the area before 9am yesterday or any other morning recently, who might have seen anybody who wouldn’t be usually in that area.”

Mr Harte’s death is the third gun killing, and fourth murder, so far this year in the area, which are being investigated by detectives in Coolock Garda Station.

It follows at least one pipe-bomb attack in Coolock in February and a gun attack on a young father in the same area.

“We’re obviously concerned at the number of fatal shootings and the availability of firearms. We have only a set number of detectives, although we do have the support of national units,” said one garda source.

The Dublin Metropolitan Northern Region recorded 32 homicide offences, including murder threats, in 2005. That’s 44% of the 73 homicide offences for all six Dublin divisions.

Detectives in the area detected 29 of those cases, or 90% of the crimes.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe said armed criminals were acting with “impunity” in many parts of Dublin.

“The evidence is that gardaí are not being given the resources they need to tackle gangland,” he said.

Local Labour TD Tommy Broughan said the city was “in the midst of an unprecedented wave of gun murders” and called on Justice Minister Michael McDowell to give political leadership.