Man quizzed over Dublin gangland killing
The 29-year-old man is suspected of luring Byrne to his death in a planned murder at a local authority housing estate in Dublin’s north inner city on Saturday night. Gardaí link the murder to a violent inner city feud, which has claimed at least four lives since 2006.
Detectives believe the suspect drove a car carrying Byrne into Drumalee estate, off North Circular Road. He stopped the car at a cul-de-sac on Drumalee Avenue directly opposite a laneway at around 8.45pm.
The driver exited the vehicle, at which stage a second man approached the passenger side of the car from the laneway and fired up to ten rounds from a semi-automatic handgun into the chest and upper body of Byrne.
Byrne, 33, and a father-of-one, lived in St Mary’s Mansions flats complex in the north inner city and knew his life was in danger. He was used to wearing a bullet-proof vests but didn’t on that night.
He was aligned to one side of the feud and had a number of convictions, including for the rape of two prostitutes.
A major hunt was set up after his murder and, by Sunday afternoon, gardaí had tracked down the suspected driver. He was arrested under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. This provision allows for a maximum detention period of seven days.
Gardaí are empowered to detain suspects for an initial 48 hours on the authority of senior officers. The detention period can be extended for up to three days on application to the court – which can be done in secret. A further detention period of two days can then be authorised by the courts.
Gardaí have issued a description of the suspected gunman, who was seen running down the laneway.
He is described as being between 5ft9-5ft11, possibly 6ft and of thin build. He wore a grey hoody, with the hood up, and possibly grey jeans or tracksuit bottoms.
