Fatal shooting was ‘a case of mistaken identity’

Murder squad detectives investigating the fatal shooting of a retired truck driver at his Dublin home believe it was a case of mistaken identity.

Edward Nugent, 64, was hit three times in the chest in the gun attack in the Walkinstown area on Sunday night in what was the first gun murder in Dublin this year. Gardaí said he was rushed to St James’s Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Last night, the deceased man’s son Kieran said his father was a very ill man who never had any involvement in crime.

“Whoever did this got the wrong man. They are scumbags with no value for life. They shot an innocent man,” Kieran said.

He said his father was “a very ill man” who had suffered heart attacks and strokes and had recently been in bed for 11 days with the vomiting bug and the flu.

“We are all in shock. We are numb. We are lost for words,” Kieran said.

It is understood that detectives are examining a number of lines of inquiry in connection with the killing, including whether Mr Nugent was shot in a case of mistaken identity.

They are also looking into the backgrounds of his family, including one relative who allegedly associates with a drug dealer.

The shooting happened at Mr Nugent’s home in Harty Avenue, Walkinstown. At around 9.30pm, a gunman called to the victim’s house and fired four shots through the front door. Mr Nugent, who had come to answer the door, was shot through the glass. Members of Mr Nugent’s family who were home at the time — another son Thomas and his partner — called the emergency services.

Mr Nugent’s wife Ann was not at home. Paramedics treated him at the scene before he was removed to hospital where he died.

The gunman was driven away in a silver Honda Civic car, which was later found burnt-out on nearby John McCormack Avenue. Two crime scenes in Walkinstown were preserved for a technical forensic examination — the house and the burnt-out car.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins described the murder as barbaric and senseless.

“The reckless nature violent gangs have brought to gun crime in Dublin is once again apparent on the streets of a quiet suburb and another family has been needlessly devastated,” said Mr Collins, adding that there was “a strong sense that criminals in Dublin do not fear or respect the rule of law in any way”.

Neighbours of the Nugent family said they had previously lost a son in a motorbike crash. One woman described Mr Nugent as “a brilliant neighbour”.

“When we moved here 10 years ago, we were told the people to get in touch for help were Edward and Ann,” the woman said.

Mr Nugent was a married man with adult children. He had been involved in the waste removal business and also worked as a truck driver though is not believed to have been working in recent years due to ill health.

Mr Nugent was not a career criminal and gardaí were unaware of any threat to his life or any recent feuds he had become involved in.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone who was in the Walkinstown or Crumlin areas between 9pm and 10pm who may be able to help the inquiry to contact them in confidence at on 01 666 6200.