Gunman hunt as teen shot

GARDAÍ are hunting a gunman after a teenager was shot at his home in Dublin’s north inner city.

The 19-year-old youth is thought to have been hit in the shoulder, but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The shooting occurred at 11.40pm on Thursday night at the victim’s house on West Road in East Wall.

The victim, who has been named locally, lives in the house with his parents.

It is understood that when the young man answered a knock on the door he was shot by a single attacker.

“A lone male approached the house and fired a number of shots at one of the occupants with a handgun at the doorway,” said a Garda spokesman.

One neighbour said she heard five shots at around the time.

“The injured party is a 19-year-old male who was taken to the Mater Hospital,” said the Garda spokesman. “His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.”

He said the attackerescaped on foot in the direction of Stoney Road, where he got into a saloon car.

The spokesman said they had no more information on the car.

Gardaí sealed off the area and carried out a technical and ballistic examination.

A description of the attacker was issued by gardaí: “The culprit himself isdescribed as being a male in a dark coloured hoodie top with a white stripe on the sleeve, wearing a black and white scarf, approximately 5’6” in height and stocky build,” said the spokesman.

He said there were a number of adults in the house at the time.

Local sources yesterday speculated that a localnotorious drug gang may be behind the shooting.

Senior members of the gang are from one local family and some have been involved in serious assaults, including on juveniles, tourists and elderly people.

Shootings are unusual in East Wall, but some local people have expressed concern over the last year about gangs of youths, some of whom have been involved in open drug dealing.

Last December, 50-year-old mechanic Aidan O’Kane, was shot dead near his home on Shelmalier Road after he chased a group of teenagers.

Gardaí are asking anyone who may have witnessed Thursday’s shooting or have information to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01-6668000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111 or any Garda station.