Latest murder highlights gun crime targeting those on fringe

LITTLE more than six weeks into the new year and gun crime has claimed its third fatality.

This is on top of several attempted murders in Dublin and Limerick.

The latest victim, a 21-year-old named Darren Guerrine, highlights the extent to which gun crime is claiming people on the edges of criminal activity.

Initial accounts point to a young man who hung about with a gang of youths and developed a reputation for causing hassles and general antisocial behaviour.

He had clocked up convictions for relatively minor traffic offences, including joyriding.

But gardaí point out that individuals like the deceased can be often caught up with other individuals involved in more serious criminal activity, including drug dealing.

There is no information yet Mr Guerrine was engaged in any organised crime.

Gardaí say the murder may be over a personal row.

A large percentage of so-called gangland killings in recent years turn out to be personal rows, often over minor issues, including ex-partners or a bruised ego.

Mr Guerrine’s death seems to have been premeditated and the isolated location of his assassination suggests his killers had local knowledge.

His death follows the murder of another young man, in Donegal.

Andrew Burns, from Strabane, Co Tyrone, was shot dead at a church car park in the village of Doneyloop, just across the border in Donegal.

It has been suggested his murder may have been carried out by a splinter republican group, Óglaigh na hÉireann.

The first shooting of the year was in Sligo, when father of three David Lynch was shot dead in the Cranmore estate.

A former armed robber, Lynch’s murder may be linked to criminality in the town, which has seen a number of murders in recent years.

A couple of weeks ago Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy announced he was making the Organised Crime Unit a permanent fixture given the ongoing high levels of gang and gun crime.

Regional firearms unit are also being set up across the country, reflecting the spread of the problem outside the main urban areas.