Neighbour to be charged with murder of Mary Dargan

A next door neighbour of a woman shot dead in an attack in which her daughter was also injured will appear in court this morning charged with murder and attempted murder.

The man, in his late 50s, was arrested at the scene of the shootings at the Killinarden Estate in Tallaght, Dublin, on Saturday afternoon after being overpowered by relatives and neighbours.

Mary Dargan, 66, died instantly of a shotgun blast to the head after she encountered a man who climbed over the garden wall of her terraced home and entered the back of the house at around 4pm.

Her 27-year-old daughter, Karina Dargan, who also lives in the house, was lucky to escape with her life after she too was shot at when she ran to her mother’s aid. She suffered injuries to her face and was taken to Tallaght Hospital but was released yesterday evening.

A number of Mrs Dargan’s grandchildren, including Karina’s only child, a four-year-old girl, were in the house at the time and were handed out windows to neighbours amid the chaotic scenes.

The intruder was restrained by other relatives and neighbours and held until gardaí arrived. He was treated in hospital for a number of injuries although it is not clear whether they were self-inflicted or if he sustained them in the scuffles.

He was released from hospital late on Saturday night and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act as gardaí tried to find out why he carried out the shocking attack.

Stunned local people said the arrested man was married and well known in the area where both families have lived for years without any known animosity.

Many of them were out in their gardens enjoying the unusually fine weather and had their children playing outdoors when they heard the shotgun bangs which they initially took for gas explosions before they heard the screams of the Dargan family and their frantic calls for help.

There was no disturbance noted prior to the shooting and the arrested man was not known to gardaí for any previous incident.

Neighbours were also surprised to discover he held a shotgun and it is not known how long it was in his possession.