Man killed by gang during car hijacking

GARDAÍ have arrested two men in the Coolock area of Dublin in connection with the death of a 28-year-old man during a car hijacking near Dublin Airport early yesterday.

One of the suspects, in his 20s, was being questioned in Swords garda station while a 17-year-old was being held at Coolock.

Yesterday, gardaí launched a murder investigation after the foreign national was beaten to death by a gang during what appeared to be a car hijacking.

The victim’s girlfriend was left deeply traumatised after witnessing the seemingly unprovoked assault.

Detectives are trying to establish the motive for the murder, but suspect the attackers killed the 28-year-old man as they tried to steal his car.

They also appealed to anyone else who may have been a victim of a similar incident in the recent past to contact them.

The victim is thought to have lived here a number of years and worked as a forklift driver.

The couple, both from Estonia, were in their Volkswagon Golf early yesterday morning which was parked in a popular spot for lovers on Forest Road near Dublin airport.

Gardaí said at about 1.15am a group of at least three men, who were in a nearby car, approached the victim’s car.

“The man was pulled out of his car by three to four males and badly assaulted,” said Chief Superintendent Gerry Philips. “He was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.”

The attackers subjected the man to a severe assault, which left him with serious head injuries. Given the severity of the injuries, detectives suspect that implements may have been used.

The victim was pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital shortly after 2am.

His partner was not harmed and fled during the assault.

She sought help from people in a nearby car and they raised the alarm.

Some of the attackers took the Golf, and along with their own car, sped off in the direction of the Cloghran roundabout.

The Golf was found burnt out in a derelict halting site in Darndale, north Dublin.

From there, gardaí suspect the gang members fled further into Darndale.

Gardaí sealed off at least two crime scenes yesterday — at the lay-by and the halting site — for detailed forensic examination.

Chief Superintendent Philips appealed to anyone who passed the lay-by or who saw the car being abandoned to contact them.

He also had this appeal: “We are asking anyone who may have been the victim of a similar incident in the recent past to contact us at Swords Station.”

The incident room at Swords Garda Station can be contacted on 01-6664712.

Meanwhile, gardaí in Clondalkin, west Dublin, are investigating a shooting incident late on Sunday.

A dark-coloured car pulled up at 11.35pm outside a house at Dunmore Laws in Kingswood.

A man got out of the car and fired one shot at the front sitting-room window.

No one was injured.