Drugs link to gangland-style killing probed

Gardaí were tonight investigating a drugs link to the latest gangland-style murder in north Dublin.

Unemployed father-of-one Gerard Goulding was lured to a housing estate near Donaghmede late on Monday night where a lone gunman shot him in the back of the head.

Superintendent Noel McLaughlin said the callous killing was carried out after petty criminal and heroin addict Goulding arranged to meet someone just off St Donagh’s Road at around 10pm.

Less than an hour later he was lying murdered on waste ground.

“It is another horrific murder. We do feel that the deceased had an appointment to meet someone in the area,” the Supt said.

“This is a very, very residential area and the community are in shock.”

It is understood the 24-year-old left his girlfriend at their flat in the north inner city and got a taxi to the Donaghmede area at around 10pm.

Detectives were probing whether the hit was ordered over drug debts. Supt McLaughlin appealed for taxi drivers who had taken fares to the Donaghmede area between 10pm and 11pm on Monday to come forward.

“At this early stage of the investigation we feel that he came to the scene perhaps by taxi and had an appointment to meet somebody in the Donaghmede area,” the officer said.

“I am making an appeal to all taxi people, men and women, who were working last night to come forward to talk to us at Coolock.

“Somebody out there must have brought that person, the deceased, to the area … and we would ask them to come forward and tak to us.”

Gardaí believe a lone gunman carried out the brutal murder and are also working on the assumption that Goulding, from North Clarence Street, may have known his killer.

Detectives have appealed for information about a suspect who was seen fleeing the scene minutes after the shooting.

Supt McLaughlin described the man as 5’11” of slim build, with a thin face and a pointed nose. He was wearing a very distinctive bright white tracksuit top with dark bands on the sleeves and around the neck, the Supt said.

“This is very distinctive clothing and we would like that person to come forward and talk to us to eliminate him from our inquiries,” he said.

Detectives added that the killer may have come to the area by taxi or arrived by DART as the Howth junction station is around 500 yards from where the shooting took place.

They believe Goulding had arranged to meet someone on an open area between St Donagh’s Road and Holywell Road some time before 11pm.

The area remained sealed off for several hours as State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a preliminary examination of the body at the scene. Forensic detectives also examined the area where the shooting took place.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Coolock garda station on 01-6664200.