Murder may be linked to IRA feud
Father-of-four Liam Kenny was repeatedly shot in the hallway of his home in Clondalkin, west Dublin, by at least two gunmen.
His wife and one of his daughters were upstairs in the home at the time of the shooting, which occurred at 4am yesterday.
It is the third gangland-style murder this month and the seventh fatal shooting so far this year.
Although it is early in the investigation, detectives are investigating if the shooting stemmed in some way from Mr Kenny’s involvement in hardline republicanism.
The 53-year-old security guard was a member of Republican Sinn Féin, although that group claimed he left last summer and joined a splinter group based in Limerick.
The splinter group is claiming he was shot because he stood up to drug dealing.
Gardaí are investigating if the shooting is part of a row between the Continuity IRA, which is linked with Republican Sinn Féin, and the Real IRA.
This may be over a feud between the two paramilitary groups over control of the lucrative security business at the city’s pubs and clubs.
The Real IRA in Dublin has become increasingly violent in recent years in taking over more of the door trade. It has carried out a number of shootings and murders as part of this campaign.
Gardaí said that at least two armed men tried to force their way through the door of Mr Kenny’s home.
When Mr Kenny went downstairs to investigate, the gunmen managed to smash a side window and opened fire, hitting Mr Kenny.
Superintendent John Gilligan said detectives had held a case conference yesterday morning.
“We are trying to establish what happened,” he said. “It was 4am, starting to get bright at this time of year, people passing by or neighbours or taxi drivers may have seen something,” said Supt Gilligan.
He said there were at least two males, one 5.6ft in height, another 5.9ft. He said gardaí wanted to “firm up” that description with the public’s help.
Supt Gilligan said they are also seeking help in trying to locate a car used in the get-away by the gang.
The car, a silver Nissan Qashqai, had a partial registration of 10 D. It was found burnt out nearby at Steeples Estate off St Laurence’s Rd, Chapelizod. The car had been stolen in Dublin in recent days.
