Gardaí probe links in shooting

GARDAÍ are investigating if there is a link between the gangland murder of a 29-year-old man at the weekend and the shooting dead of a drug dealer almost a year ago.

The latest victim, who was named locally as Richie McCormack, was shot dead outside his brother’s house on St Ronan’s Close, Ronanstown, west Dublin, just before 9pm on Saturday.

McCormack, who lived on nearby St Ronan’s Drive, was leaving his brother’s house when a lone gunman approached him and fired a number of shots with a handgun.

It is understood several people witnessed the gun attack. A neighbour, who is a nurse, assisted him and he was still alive when gardaí arrived from Ronanstown station, a few minutes away. He died just over an hour later at Tallaght Hospital.

Garda sources last night said McCormack, a father-of-one, was a suspect for the murder of Robbie O’Hanlon in Ronanstown on March 14, 2007. O’Hanlon was suspected by gardaí and locals as a drug dealer.

Detectives said this murder will form one line of inquiry. Garda sources said McCormack was “known to gardaí in relation to serious crime”. However, he had only relatively minor convictions, including for public order and road traffic offences.

The Garda team will also examine whether the gun attack is linked in any way to the fatal shooting of John Berney in Newscastle, also west Dublin, last Thursday.

Berney, also 29 and a father-of-four, was shot dead while asleep in bed with his partner at their home in Castlelyon Drive. It is understood he had a previous address at Harelawn Drive in Ronanstown.

Speaking yesterday, Superintendent Pat Clavin of Ronanstown station said the deceased had not been officially named yet by gardaí.

“It is a very serious crime and it will be fully investigated by the gardaí and any links with any other crimes will be fully explored as all avenues are,” he said.

“He [the gunman] is described as being between 5’9” and 6’0” in height. He was wearing a blue-grey jacket and a blue-grey baseball cap and his face was covered by a light coloured scarf. Before he got into the [silver] car he shouted at his accomplice and it was observed he had a strong Dublin accent and it was also observed that he was of heavy build.”

Supt Clavin appealed to anyone with information to contact the station at 01-6667712 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.