Gardaí fear retaliation after boy’s shooting

Gardaí are hoping to make quick progress in their investigation into the accidental shooting of a six-year-old boy in an attempt to prevent any retaliation.

Gardaí fear retaliation after boy’s shooting

Detectives suspect two attackers, one armed with a firearm, were trying to shoot a man, who is a relative of the boy, at the time.

The man was trying to escape from his assailants when a bullet struck the boy, who was standing at the gate of his home.

The shooting took place at 10.15pm last Friday at Croftwood Gardens, Ballyfermot, west Dublin.

The boy, named locally as Sean Scully, was wounded above the collarbone, hitting nerves in his neck.

Gardaí last night said he was in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Officers arrested the relative on Sunday afternoon on suspicion of withholding information about the shooting. He can be held, on application to the courts, for a maximum of three days.

Gardaí are investigating reports the attackers, thought to be brothers, and the intended target had been in a row earlier.

The row is considered to be a personal dispute.

More in this section