Two more arrests made in Dublin murder investigation

Two further arrests were made today over the shooting of a widower as he chased youths from his home.

Aidan O’Kane – a father of one – was subjected to a campaign of harassment by youths before he was gunned down in Dublin’s north inner city on Sunday evening.

Six teenagers were detained by gardaí over the killing but two of them, both male, were released without charge last night.

Gardai arrested a 32-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man this morning.

The death of the 50-year-old mechanic has shocked the close-knit community in Dublin’s north inner city and sparked fresh demands for action against spiralling gun crime.

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said the involvement of young people in Mr O’Kane’s killing was a worrying development for Irish society.

Detectives detained four male youths, aged 13, 15, 16 and 18, and a 19-year-old woman on Monday under section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act.

A sixth teenager was arrested yesterday.

The youths are being questioned about the attack – in an alleyway off Bargy Road, East Wall – at Dublin’s Store Street garda station, Mountjoy station, and Whitehall garda station.

The two adults arrested this morning are being questioned at Pearse Street and Store Street garda stations under section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Alan McHugh has appealed to the parents of more than 10 children believed to have been at the crime scene to come forward.

Mr O’Kane was chasing youths for throwing eggs at his home on Shelmalier Road, East Wall, when one pulled a handgun and fired a single fatal bullet into his stomach.

He was originally from Clontarf in Dublin but moved into the area about a year ago with his 25-year-old son and was known for fixing neighbours’ bicycles and computers.

His killing is the 20th gun murder this year and came less than a month after rugby player Shane Geoghegan was shot dead in Limerick.

The 28-year-old victim was gunned down when gangland criminals mistook him for their intended target.