Gardaí hope friend of gangland murder victim will lead to killers

Gardaí are hoping a friend of the latest gangland murder victim has information that will help identify the killers.

Paul Gallagher, 26, was shot dead on remote farmland in Co Meath late on Monday night after he travelled to the location with his friend.

Gardaí said Gallagher left his family home at Donaghmede, north Dublin, at 10.30pm on Monday after his friend picked him up in a red Volkswagen golf.

Gardaí believe the car, with an 01 LH registration, travelled up the M1 motorway but took the Slane exit, heading for the village of Collon. They suspect they arrived there by around 11pm or 11.30pm.

Gardaí are investigating what happened after that and why they ended up in farmland at Ballymacan, just inside Meath.

It is thought Gallagher exited the car and that his friend stayed in the driver’s seat. Some time later, there were shots and his friend fled. The victim’s family received an anonymous phone call on Wednesday with information that something had happened and directing them to the general location. Detectives in Navan have identified the friend and spoken to him. It is thought he has been silent so far.

“He’s implicated in some way, in that he has information,” said a source, “We want to know who they were meeting and why.” Gardaí have the option of arresting the man, if necessary, for withholiding information under the Offences Against the State Act.

They said the Ballymacan area was rural and people might have noticed the car and said the car may also have stopped somewhere on its journey.

Gallagher is thought to be associated with a gangland boss in north Dublin, one of two suspected of ordering the murder of Real IRA boss Alan Ryan in 2012. Anyone with information can contact Navan Garda Station on 046 9079930, on the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.