Gardaí left baffled as man shoots banker in both legs

Gardai are baffled by the shooting of a banker who was targeted outside his home.

The finance union IBOA is also investigating why the man was singled out.

Keith Deegan from Dublin was shot at five times when he went to open the front door.

Gardaí appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Deegan’s 10-year-old son, and fiancée, Lynett Maloney, were in the house at the time but were not injured.

As Mr Deegan was treated in hospital for his wounds yesterday, his brother and son returned to the house to remove clothes and other family possessions.

Mr Deegan’s brother said the family did not want to return to their home at least for the time being.

The gunman had banged on the door of Mr Deegan’s home at Corbally Green in Tallaght at about 10.30pm on Tuesday.

The masked man fired five shots from a handgun as Mr Deegan answered the door. He was hit twice in one leg and once in the other.

The bank employee was rushed to Tallaght Hospital, where his leg injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

A spokesperson for the IBOA said it was endeavouring to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the shooting to determine exactly the reasons for it.

Gardaí at Tallaght (01 6666082) want to hear from anyone who might have noticed an 05 Volvo.

The car used in the attack was stolen from Sandymount, Dublin, a month ago. It was found burned out near the banker’s home.

Mr Deegan, who is originally from Rathfarnham, works for Bank of Ireland but had been on sick leave for several months. He had lived at Corbally Green for a number of years.

Neighbours said they had heard what sounded more like cracks rather than bangs on the night of the shooting.

One young man said he saw the gunman stand at the front gate of the house, fire, then run to a car.

Gardaí have spoken to Mr Deegan and established that the man has no criminal convictions and is not known to the gardaí.

Gardaí sealed off the scene of the shooting for a forensic examination by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

Two bullet holes could be seen in the PVC of the front door, one near waist height and the other at chest height.

Bullet casings, believed to be from a 9mm handgun, were also discovered in the driveway where two cars, a Ford Mondeo and a BMW convertible, remained parked.

The Volvo found burnt out in the nearby Carrigmore Estate in Saggart was being examined for any link with the shooting.

“There’s no clear motive at the moment so we’re looking at all aspects of it,” said a Garda source.

“There’s no big track record there.”

Gardai in Tallaght have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Sinn Féin councillor Cathal King said the Corbally estate was a quiet area. “It’s a very settled and quiet area. Normally there’s no trouble in it.”