Gardaí seek three men in connection with gun death
The incident in the Sliabh Breagh estate in Ardee resulted in the death of Stephen Hanaphy, 20, of Cromcastle Court, Coolock. Mr Hanaphy collapsed and died from a single gunshot wound to just above his heart after fleeing the scene of an attack on a house in the quiet residential estate.
Mr Hanaphy is believed to have accompanied three other men from the capital to the Co Louth town in order to carry out a punishment attack on members of a Traveller family who are in dispute with a Dublin criminal. The Dublin gang smashed in back windows and forced their way into the rented property on the Sliabh Breagh estate before being confronted inside the house by a man armed with a gun and another with a Samurai sword. A number of shots were fired at the intruders from either a handgun or rifle.
Mr Hanaphy was wounded but fled from the scene. His body was found under a tree on a green area about 300 metres from the house shortly after 4am on Saturday morning.
Another man who it is believed had accompanied Mr Hanaphy to Ardee presented himself to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to his arm. It is understood his injuries are not life-threatening and detectives are waiting to interview him. A man in his 20s, who was arrested in Dublin at 5.30pm on Saturday on suspicion of aggravated burglary at the house in Ardee, was later released.
A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigators still wish to speak to a fourth man believed to be among the group, as well as two settled Travellers who are believed to have fled the house following the incident which has been described by gardaí as a case of a criminal attack that “badly backfired” on its perpetrators.
Mr Hanaphy , also know as Stephen Lyndon, is believed to have been a keep fit enthusiast and had not previously come to Garda attention for serious criminal activity.
Gardaí carried out door to door inquiries on the housing estate and appealed for anyone who was in the area from 10pm on Friday night or anyone with information to contact them.
Detectives also want to talk to a taxi driver who took a man from Ardee in the direction of Dublin shortly after 11pm.
