Emergency surgery for man shot three times in the leg

A MAN underwent emergency surgery yesterday after he was shot three times in the leg.

The gun attack happened in a quiet estate in west Dublin at about 9am yesterday morning.

Gardaí said the victim, 28, was shot in the leg three times by what appeared to be a handgun.

The shooting took place in broad daylight on Cedarbrook Avenue in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.

The victim was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery on his leg. A Garda spokesman said the injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The spokesman said the attacker appeared to use a handgun and that he made his getaway in a green Nissan Micra. The gunman abandoned the car nearby and set it on fire.

The spokesman said that the man was wearing a balaclava.

Officers conducted house-to-house inquiries yesterday and were gathering any CCTV footage from the area. Detectives are examining the background of the victim and are investigating any possible theories as to the motive for the attack.

One neighbour said she heard two bangs at about 9.10am.

“I saw the two people who live up the road standing over the boy and then he was carried into the ambulance.”

She said it was a new, and quiet, estate, and that it was unusual for something like this to happen.

“I think in this day and age it’s absolutely disgraceful. That could have been my son or anybody else’s son, standing outside there and could have been shot for no apparent reason. The guards should crack down on this big time.”

Anybody with information can contact Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 6667200.

Meanwhile, two teenagers were arrested in connection with the murder of David Rooney, in Crumlin, south Dublin, on July 2.

The male and female — both aged 18 — were picked up yesterday morning and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The male was taken to Sundrive Road Garda Station and the female was brought to Crumlin Garda Station.

The Irish Examiner reported last Saturday that arrests for the murder were expected to take place this week.

David Rooney, 35, died after being assaulted by a gang of men, during which he was stabbed in the head with a sharpened snooker cue.

Detectives suspect the brutal attack stemmed from a minor drug dispute and a money debt of as little as €300 to €400.

The assault took place on Clonmacnoise Road in Crumlin.

Mr Rooney, from nearby Durrow Road, died from his injuries 10 days later.

He had been stabbed behind the left ear into his brain.