Gardaí continue hunt for gangland assassin

Gardaí were tonight continuing their hunt for the gunman who shot dead 26-year-old Anthony Cannon in the latest gangland murder.

He died after being repeatedly shot by a gunman who fled the scene in Ballyfermot, south Dublin, on a motorcycle shortly before 4pm yesterday.

Detectives were today questioning people in the area of the killing which has been linked to the to the ongoing Crumlin-Drimnagh gang feud.

The gun attack – close to Ruby Finnegans pub – is the 17th gangland style shooting in the Republic so far this year.

A senior officer said the dead man was well known to detectives. He was said to be wearing a bullet proof vest at the time of his murder.

Two men on a motorbike are believed to have chased Cannon before they shot him and fled.

Youngsters in the area said they saw the victim attempting to climb over a wall before he fell to the ground.

A garda spokesman said when officers rushed to Saint Mary’s Avenue West they found the man had suffered serious injuries but he soon died.

A post-mortem examination was to be held today.

In the aftermath of the gun attack Sinn Féin councillor Criona Ni Dhalaigh said the shooting happened close to a pitch where children where playing.

“There were a lot of children in there playing,” she said.

“It’s one of the few areas where children can actually play. That’s nerve wracking for parents to make sure children are okay.

“You send them out ... and you go out and presume they’re going to be safe.”