Gardaí greeted by ‘scenes of chaos’ following double shooting in Kildare

Gardaí responding to the scene of a double fatal shooting in Kildare were greeted by scenes of chaos, an inquest has heard.

Bullets “flew everywhere” and bloodstains covered the walls and floors of the hall and sitting room of the house at Rochford Avenue, Kilcock, where four men were shot on March 6, 2012.

Andrew Barry, aged 30, sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and later died.

Zilvinas Varnouskas, aged 30, from Lithuania, was shot in the back garden as he tried to escape. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.

A neighbour rushed to the house after he heard “two to three shots” at around 10.10pm. He said the homeowner, Andrew Barry, was “trying to speak but he was gurgling”.

Garda Inspector Paul Dolan said they assumed, from ballistics evidence, that there were two gunmen.

Michael Galvin was shot in the leg during the incident. He said the gunmen entered the house and “bullets were flying everywhere”.

“Being honest, I thought it was like a Garda raid,” he said. “The gunman was waving his gun around the room. I saw Andy’s chest opening and he fell back.

“I haven’t a clue who shot me or how many gunmen there were.”

Insp Dolan said:

“All avenues have been exhausted at this time. In the absence of further information, the case is unlikely to progress.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by persons unknown in both cases.