‘Slap in the mouth’ led to attack that injured boy

Gardaí suspect a “slap in the mouth” led to the reckless gun attack in south Dublin which resulted in the shooting of an innocent schoolboy.

Detectives believe a sister of one of the gunmen was assaulted a couple of months ago and that her brother, along with another man, decided to shoot the suspected culprit.

He was standing outside a house on Lismore Rd in Crumlin on Tuesday night along with two other youths, a 17-year-old boy and Stephen Hynes, 16.

Gardaí stressed Stephen was an innocent who was not known to them.

When the gunmen pulled up in a car fired a shotgun, cartridge pellets hit him in the back and head.

Stephen was taken to St James’s Hospital, but sources said his injuries were not life threatening. A family friend said the boy was recovering well.

Gardaí arrested two men on suspicion of possessing a firearm. Sources said they expected a file would be prepared for the DPP.

The attackers wore balaclavas and their vehicle was found burnt out a short distance away in Poddle Close.