Foley shooting: Man arrested

DETECTIVES investigating the shooting of convicted criminal Martin “the Viper” Foley yesterday arrested a suspect.

The man, in his mid-20s, was detained in Ballyfermot, west Dublin, during a targeted early morning operation, say gardaí.

He was taken to Crumlin Garda Station shortly after 7am where he is being questioned under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

Foley, 55, was shot repeatedly as he left a gym on Kimmage Road West, Dublin, on January 26 and was left fighting for his life under armed guard in a private hospital. He was hit in the shoulder at least three times, once in the hip, while two bullets entered his lower back.

It is the fourth time that Foley, who has dozens of criminal convictions, has been shot. The known criminal recognised his attacker, who made off in a white Ford van which was later found at Wainsford Road, Terenure.

Foley whispered the name of the gunman to the first gardaí who arrived on the scene.

Detectives were working to compare DNA samples from a Glock pistol found in the getaway van with samples taken from the alleged gunman, who was not wearing a balaclava at the time of the attack.