Pair hunted after man gunned down in pub

Gardai were today hunting for two men after the second criminal gangland-style shooting in Dublin in less than a week.

A 40-year-old man was sitting in Farrell’s pub on Clanbrassil Street last night when two men walked in with a handgun, fired a number of shots at him and fled.

The victim – named locally as Raymond Salinger – was hit in the head and chest and taken to nearby St James’s Hospital, where he died shortly afterwards.

Mr Salinger, known to gardai, had recently returned to Dublin from England and was believed to be linked to drugs trading.

A garda spokesman said he was singled out when the pair entered the pub.

“One of the men had a balaclava and had a handgun, and they singled out one person, a local man who was drinking a pint at the counter,” he said.

“They fired a number of shots. He was later pronounced dead at 10.28pm in St James’s Hospital.”

A man drinking in the pub at the time said he thought a firework had gone off.

"I was with a friend of mine having a drink and I heard a bang,” he said. “I was standing beside the chap when I just heard a bang and I thought it was a firework.”

He said Mr Salinger tried to escape but failed.

“The man got up to try and run and they shot again,” he said. “I think he shot three times altogether and the chap tried to run away, and then he just hit the floor and the two youngsters just ran out the door.”

The gunman was described as 5ft 8in and was wearing a cream top, blue jeans and a balaclava.

The incident was the second gangland-style shooting in Dublin in the last week.

Last Thursday, well-known criminal figure Niall Mulvihill was shot dead at the wheel of the taxi he operated in the centre of Dublin.

Sean Ardagh, chairman of the Justice Committee, today said he would be requesting extra officers in areas worst-hit by violence as a result of the incidents.

He said: “I believe this is a time for us to take a cold and clear-headed look at how we tackle violent crime on our streets, which has become more horrific in recent times.”