Gardaí still probing fatal shooting of young mother

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old mother at a birthday party in Dublin’s Coolock, a coroner’s court heard today.

Donna Cleary, a mother of a young boy, was shot dead just after 2.30am on March 5 at a house on Adare Green, Coolock where she was attending a 40th birthday party.

After Ms Cleary was gunned down by men who opened fire on the house when refused entry to a party, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described it as a new low for Irish society.

Two days after Ms Cleary’s shooting one of the chief suspects arrested in relation to her death, Dwayne Foster, 24, died in garda custody.

Insp Robert Melvin, from the Coolock, Malahide and Swords district, told a brief inquest into Ms Cleary’s death: “The position is it is still under investigation.”

The court heard Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Declan Gilsenan, found Ms Cleary died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Her mother, Kathleen, and her father, who were present in the Dublin’s Coroners Court, were told her inquest would be adjourned until November 20th next while the garda investigation continued.

Mrs Cleary, from Castlekevin Road in Coolock, told how she identified her 22-year-old daughter at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital after the shooting.

Adjourning the inquest, Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said: “I am of course aware of the circumstances of Donna’s death but I cannot make any comment.”

He added: “Sometimes it is hard to find the right words to express sympathy.”

Ms Cleary was shot after a group of up to four men were refused entry to the house at Adare Green where the party was underway.

Gardaí believe the men returned to the party a short time later – and one man indiscriminately fired shots at the house.

At the time, Chief Supt Peter Maguire of Coolock Garda Station, said it was the worst incident he had seen in more than 30 years serving in the gardaí.

“It’s the most horrific incident, it’s the worst that’s ever happened in my time,” he said.

Six people were arrested in relation to the gunning down of Ms Cleary and files were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Foster, who was well-known to gardaí, was arrested along with four others at a house in Kildare less than 24 hours after the shooting but died in custody.

Gardaí have insisted Foster, from Finglas in the north of the city, died of natural causes.

Two men arrested for questioning were released without charge after challenging their detention as unlawful in the High Court.