Man turns himself in after garda raids

A YOUNG man gave himself up to gardaí yesterday after detectives investigating a gun murder carried out raids across four counties.

At around 2.30pm, gardaí arrested a man in connection with the shooting of Kevin Ledwidge after he walked into a garda station.

Mr Ledwidge was gunned down early on Sunday when he answered his front door in Finglas, north Dublin.

The 29-year-old taken into custody yesterday was a local and his arrest came after more than two days of searches and raids on known criminal addresses. The man can be held for up to three days.

On Sunday, gardaí recovered a fast-firing MAC-10 automatic pistol, a quantity of heroin and ammunition. A further five raids were carried out yesterday as gardaí sought two men over the shooting.

Detectives carried out five searches in Dublin, as well as in Meath, Louth and Cavan looking for suspects.

A local feud is now thought to have been the cause of the single man’s death and not a case of mistaken identity.

One senior garda said yesterday “substantial progress” was being made in the case. The crucial assistance of locals near the shooting on Rathoath Drive is being sought. Those with details can ring 01-6667500. One other man, believed to have been in the grey Opel Vectra used for the shooting, is still being sought.

Meanwhile, a Latvian national in his 50s was yesterday arrested and questioned in connection with a fatal stabbing in Nenagh last Sunday.

He was arrested after he was allowed out of Nenagh General Hospital where he was treated for a stab wound after being admitted there early on Sunday.