Early arrest expected after Dublin shooting

Gardai were today expecting an early arrest after the country’s 20th shooting fatality so far this year.

Gardaí were today expecting an early arrest after the country’s 20th shooting fatality so far this year.

The death of 24-year-old Jason Tolan, on waste ground behind a Dublin pub late on Tuesday afternoon, doubled last year’s total of the number of people to die after shootings in Ireland.

Mr Tolan was well-known to police as a joy-rider and had links with the Westies, a notorious west Dublin-based gang with drug-dealing connections.

But detectives today maintained the killing was not thought to be part of a feud between rival gangs –as was at first believed.

Mr Tolan bled to death after being hit in the leg by a shotgun blast from close range not far from his home in Dublin’s Mulhuddart district.

He was found lying injured by a passer-by, but had died by the time he reached hospital.

Gardaí said the dead man had recently returned to the area, after being away for some time.

Detective Inspector Brian Sherry said: “We believe the shooting happened during a dispute between two men. We are satisfied at this stage it had nothing to do with gangland. Our inquiries are at an advanced stage, and we are following a definite line, and we are expecting an early arrest.”

Mr Tolan died after a number of men met in the area of the shooting and a row developed.

Gardaí initiated a series of searches overnight as part of their investigation into the murder.

Mr Tolan was known for stealing cars and driving them at high speeds. He had also been involved in a serious car crash in which a taxi driver died.

He was later charged with manslaughter and brought to trial three times; but on the final occasion he was acquitted by direction of the court.