Gardaí hunt for lone pub gunman

GARDAÍ say it was a miracle no one was injured when a lone gunman carrying a sawn-off shotgun fired through the window of a crowded pub.

They are searching for the gunman who struck at the Mo Chuísle pub in Blarney Street, Cork city shortly after midnight yesterday.

He asked people standing outside the bar to move back. But while he appeared to be trying to ensure nobody got injured, he then fired one shot through the front window of the bar.

Superintendent Con Cadogan, who is leading the investigation, said there were up to 30 people inside the premises at the time.

“They were very lucky that they weren’t injured,” he said.

The gunman arrived at the pub on a high-powered motorcycle, which had an engine capacity of around 600cc.

He travelled up to the bar from the Shandon Street side and fled back in the same direction.

When he pulled up he produced the sawn-off shotgun from under a leather jacket.

He discharged the firearm at the window at exactly 12.04am.

Within two minutes he was back down the road, heading for Shandon Street.

“We are anxious to hear from anybody who may have seen this motorcycle after the shooting and we want to find out where it went,” Supt Cadogan said.

Gardaí were quickly on the scene and sealed off the area for a number of hours as technical experts carried out a thorough examination of the public bar and the street.

The street was reopened to traffic at 9.00am.

Gardaí also conducted house-to-house inquiries and are examining CCTV footage taken in the area.

“We are in the process of interviewing all the customers who were at the bar and all the staff,” Supt Cadogan said.

He said gardaí were keeping an open mind on the motive behind the shooting.

The motorcyclist was said to be wearing dark clothing and a helmet.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station at 0210 4946209.