Gardaí appeal for information as they probe fatal Dublin gangland attack

Gardaí have made a public appeal for help in piecing together the latest fatal gangland attack in Dublin.

Darren Kearns, 34, was shot several times outside Cumiskey’s Pub on Blackhorse Avenue on Wednesday night.

Cabra gardaí are investigating the murder and they want to speak to anybody who saw anything unusual or suspicious in the area at the time. The gangland murder may be linked to Kearne’s involvement in the drugs trade.

In particular, gardaí are trying to retrace the movements of a light coloured BMW 5 series car that was found burned out in a laneway off Regal Park after the shooting.

His attackers were seen running away after the BMW was set alight and gardaí believe they may have got into another car and were driven away.

During a media briefing yesterday, gardaí said it was lucky that more people were not killed or injured in the attack.

Kearns had just finished having a meal with his wife at the Rising Phoenix Chinese and Thai restaurant above Cumiskey’s pub in Blackhorse Avenue.

The couple were at the restaurant for more than an hour — they arrived at about 4.30pm and left around 5.40pm. They were about to leave in a car parked at the back of the pub when a lone gunman approached and fired a number of shots into the vehicle.

Kearns was shot in the head and died at the scene and, while his wife was severely traumatised, she escaped injury.

Gardaí said it was fortunate the woman had not been shot and expressed concern there could have been any number of innocent victims caught up in the attack.

There would have been a number of passers-by, including families, in the vicinity at the time.

Customers at the restaurant said they heard a number of shots and some thought the noise was made by fireworks.

Kearns from Ashington in Cabra was recently released from prison after serving a six-year sentence for drug offences.

He was jailed in March 2012 for possessing cannabis herb with a street value of almost €2m in August 2010.

At the time of the offence, he was spending €1,000 a day on cocaine and had been abducted and tortured by the gang to whom he owed money.

Kearns had claimed he was taking the drugs to Newry to reduce his debt of almost €200,000.

Anyone with information can contact Cabra Garda Station on 01 6667400, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.