Gardaí fear retaliation as Dublin hit by four unrelated shootings in 12 hours

GARDAÍ are bracing themselves for retaliation after a serious criminal escaped death in one of four shootings in Dublin in little over 12 hours.

Detectives believe Mark Desmond, a suspect for a double murder, was the intended target of a drive-by shooting in Tallaght, west Dublin, in which he and an associate received minor injuries.

The two men managed to escape in their car after the handgun used by their attackers, who were travelling on a motorbike, jammed.