Murdered dad of 2 was driving gangland target’s car

The innocent father of two gunned down in a gangland attack last Friday was driving a car belonging to the intended target, it has emerged.

Keith Walker, who was due to get married in the coming months, was shot “multiple times” as he stood outside a pigeon club in Clonsilla, west Dublin, at tea-time.

In a speedy breakthrough, gardaí arrested three men, including the suspected shooter, on Saturday, and last night moved to extend the detention of one of them for a further three days.

Mr Walker had driven to the club on Shelerin Rd in a car owned by the intended target and had stepped out of the vehicle with his pigeons.

He was waiting with at least a dozen other people, including children, when a gunman dressed as a woman approached and opened fire with an automatic pistol.

Garda sources said it was “complete luck” no one else was murdered given the sheer volume of bullets that was fired.

Sources said this included children who were waiting with their dads outside the club, which is located in a community building.

Mr Walker, aged 36, from Tor an Rí in Clondalkin, was shot a “considerable number of times” in the hail of gunfire.

A second man was also injured and was taken to the nearby Connolly Hospital, with what were described as non life-threatening injuries.

Gardaí said Mr Walker, who worked as a delivery driver, was “completely innocent”.

While he has no involvement in crime he was a friend of the intended target, a man known to gardaí for serious crime.

Both men share an interest in pigeons and the deceased was using his friend’s car to deliver birds for a race.

Mr Walker’s fiancee was abroad and thought to be on a hen event with friends at the time of the shooting, and immediately travelled home.

Family members and neighbours were attempting to console her and Mr Walker’s two boys, aged six and 14.

Gardaí suspect the motive behind the attack may be connected to a local feud with serious criminals.

Sources said that while a number of theories were still in the mix, they believe a “local element in Blanchardstown” was behind it.

The investigation team made very quick progress overnight on Friday and at 6am on Saturday moved on their first suspect.

The 32-year-old was arrested in Ratoath, Co Meath and was detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.

This anti-gang legislation allows senior gardaí to detain a suspect for 48 hours. This would have brought the detention period up to 6am today. In advance of that, the local chief superintendent was expected to go to court last night and seek an extension of the man’s detention for another 72 hours. Under the act, such applications are held in private.

Two other men, aged 36 and 38, were arrested on Saturday evening and detained under the same provisions. They are also suspected of involvement in the murder.

Gardaí are so far satisfied with the progress of their investigation, but stress there is still a long way to go. They are continuing to interview the witnesses at the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.