Man's death condemned as 'gangland execution'

Politicians today described the death of a man as the latest in a wave of cold-blooded gangland executions.

Detectives have launched an investigation after the remains of a man in his early 30s were found on a housing estate in Tallaght, Co Dublin.

Opposition Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan branded the death as yet another brutal killing in a wave of attacks that have sparked fears over a surging gun culture.

“The fact that the victim was shot in the head is a clear example of a gangland-style execution,” he said.

“This shooting underlines yet again the continuing threat to society posed by armed gangland criminals and the widespread and uncontrolled use of guns.”

“Gangland criminals feel they can act with impunity. We urgently need a comprehensive strategy from the Minister (for Justice) before the situation spirals further out of control.”

State Pathologist Marie Cassidy arrived this afternoon at the two-storey, terraced house on the Donomore estate where the dead man was found at 12.20pm.

The street was sealed off while uniformed Garda officers protected the scene in advance of tests by forensic experts from the Garda Technical Bureau.

Local residents were reluctant to speak about the man’s identity but one woman said she believed he had been living in the street for two to three years.

Fianna Fáil's Charlie O’Connor who lives nearby, urged people to help gardaí with their investigation.

“I cannot believe a murder was committed right in the heart of my community here in Tallaght,” he said.

“I would appeal to the local community to co-operate fully with the gardai and their investigation.”