Shooting took place at murder victim’s home

A SHOOTING incident in Southill last Sunday occurred at the home of a man murdered in the same estate last December, it emerged yesterday.

A man received a shotgun wound to the hand after a row broke out at about 8am involving people who had been at an all night party.

People had been drinking in the home of the late Noel Crawford, who was shot dead outside his mother’s home.

In that incident, the dead man was mistaken for his brother Paul who has been targeted a number of times by one of the main feud gangs.

Noel Crawford had been out celebrating his birthday and was shot as he left his mother’s home.

Gardaí said he was not involved in crime and worked as a security man in a city store.

The man injured in last Sunday’s shooting is a member of a notorious criminal family who live on a halting site.

Members of the family had been involved in a vicious feud with another family and both sides agreed to end hostilities as part of a truce.

After the shooting the wounded victim was taken to the A&E department of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital and was allowed home after treatment.

Meanwhile, gardaí have confirmed that more than 100 houses were systematically searched in the Moyross area in recent days.

At one house gardaí came on a man with a hand wound and a broken window with blood stains was found shortly after in another search of a nearby house.

A Garda spokesman said: “A neighbour was away on holidays and he broke into the house knowing it was vacant but cut himself.”

The man is expected to appear in court shortly.

The spokesman said: “We are advising people to check their garden sheds and gardens regularly as often criminals can use them to store guns and drugs. People we met during the searches were glad to see us and very welcoming.”