Garda budget plea after 13th gangland murder

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan tonight called on the Government to spare gardaí from a raft of looming spending cuts after a man was shot dead in a busy betting shop – the 13th gangland murder this year.

Drug dealer Chris Barry was gunned down in Byrne’s Bookmakers on Dublin’s north side as shoppers went about their business on the streets outside.

The 24-year-old was shot in the head by a lone gunman with punters standing just feet away watching Saturday afternoon horse racing and football.

It was the second suspected gangland killing in the capital this week, prompting Mr Flanagan to demand the garda budget is maintained.

“Indiscriminate gangland attacks have become a regular feature of Irish weekends at a time when the Government is preparing a series of cost-cutting measures,” he said.

“Unless the Garda budget is secured, the cutbacks will have an effect on key measures aimed tackling gangland.”

The opposition figure also demanded Justice Minister Dermot Ahern immediately hold a top level security summit with garda chiefs over the upsurge in street attacks.

Gardaí said a gunman, believed to have acted alone, walked into Byrne’s on Killester Avenue at around 3pm, singled out his victim and opened fire.

It is thought Barry tried to flee but his attacker shot him in the head at point blank range.

The dead man, from the Killester area, was known among local residents and gardaí and suspected of drug dealing.

A motorbike, believed to have been used by the gunman in the getaway, was found abandoned just off La Vista Avenue, a few streets from the where the killing took place.

The bike had been set on fire, leaving only a burnt-out shell.

It is the second gun murder in the capital this week after 27-year-old Christopher McDonagh was shot dead on Wednesday at his west Dublin home.

It is also believed to be the 13th suspected gangland killing this year – one more than the total for the whole of last year.

The Government is planning massive spending cuts to plug a €5bn hole in the Exchequer books after the country’s tax take collapsed over the year.

But Mr Flanagan added: “The Government’s main objective must be to end the spiral of gangland killings and put those responsible behind bars.

“Crime must move up the government agenda and gangland bosses, most of whom are known to the gardaí, must not be allowed to act with impunity.”

It is the second gun murder in the Artane/Killester area this year after Anthony Russell was killed in April as he sat drinking in the Ardlea Inn – only half a mile from today’s murder.

His murder was linked to a feud between drug dealing and crime gangs in the north inner city.

Garda forensic experts sealed off the scene and recovered two coats from the street at the front of Byrne’s Bookmakers shop as a full scale murder hunt began.

Officers spent most of the day examining the short stretch on Killester Avenue fronted by shops, a pub, a supermarket and the bookmakers.

Superintendent Dave Dowling, who is heading the investigation at Raheny garda station, appealed for witnesses or anyone with any information to come forward.

Gerry Byrne, local Fine Gael councillor, said the broad daylight attack took place in a busy and respectable area.

“These people seem to be able to operate with impunity,” he said.

“The individual may have some history so to speak but I don’t know if there is any solution to it.”