Gardaí draw up list of suspects for shooting

GARDAÍ are drawing up a list of possible suspects for this week’s double shooting just outside Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

The two victims were each shot in the leg, but one of them managed to drive their car back into Clonmel, where they sought assistance.

They are aged in their mid-to-late 20s and are both known, locally, to gardaí.

Officers yesterday said they were investigating “certain lines of inquiry”.

One of these is that the shooting may be drug-related. However, officers are also investigating a number of other theories, but declined to give details for operational reasons.

Gardaí said the two men had got out of their car, a 4x4, at Kilnamac, around 5km outside Clonmel, at around 11.45pm on Monday.

It is thought that at least four shots were fired at the men, hitting each of them once in the thigh. Other shots hit their car.

Gardaí believe the two men managed to get into the jeep and drive away towards Clonmel.

They sought help in the town and an ambulance brought them to South Tipperary General Hospital.

They were later moved to Waterford Regional Hospital, where their gunshot wounds were treated.

Their injuries were not serious and they were discharged at 2pm yesterday.

Detectives spoke to the two men and they are assisting the investigation, which is being carried out by a large team from Clonmel and Dungarvan Garda stations.

Gardaí said some people in the Kilnamac area must have heard gunshots and may have also seensuspicious activity at the time.

“We are anxious to find people who heard gunshots at about 11.45am-11.50am in Kilnamac east and west,” said a garda.

Gardaí said they were not sure yet what type of weapon was used and are awaiting the results of ballistic tests. A detailed examination of the scene and the car was carried out by forensic and ballistic experts. An incident room has been set up at Clonmel Garda Station, 052-77640.