Man shot multiple times in laneway attack

A MAN in his late 20s, who walked free from court earlier this year after being acquitted of murdering another prison inmate, was shot repeatedly in Dublin last night.

Declan O’Reilly, of Parnell Road in Crumlin, came under attack at a laneway linking Harold’s Cross Road to a nearby playing field at about 6.30pm.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance.

The scene at Harold’s Cross has been preserved for a technical examination and an incident room has been set up at Terenure Garda Station.

Investigating gardaí are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Harold’s Cross Road between 6pm and 6.30pm to contact them.

Earlier this year, O’Reilly burst into tears at the Central Criminal Court after a jury unanimously found him not guilty of the murder of Glennon in Mountjoy Prison in June 2007.

The 24-year-old died after being stabbed through the heart, lung, stomach and arm.

During the three-day trial, the jury had viewed CCTV footage of the fight between O’Reilly and Glennon.

It showed the two engaged in a sudden and brief struggle before prison staff separated them.

O’Reilly later told gardaí that Glennon had been bullying him for months, forcing him to hide syringes, drugs and mobile phones on his behalf, punching him and threatening to have his brother shot. He said he was terrified to leave his cell every day.

On the evening of his death, O’Reilly told the court he went to Glennon’s cell to ask him to take back a knife he had been hiding on his behalf.

Glennon became angry and threatened to cut his throat. O’Reilly told the court he believed Glennon was going to cut him or give him a “stripe” on his face.

O’Reilly told gardaí he felt he had to “get” Glennon before he got him.

Anyone who may have information on the shooting yesterday is asked to contact Terenure Garda Station at 01 6666400, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111.