Divers break through canal ice in murder weapon hunt

Garda sub-aqua divers had to break through ice on the frozen Royal Canal today to search for a gun used in a double murder at the weekend.

Detectives believe the weapon used to kill Brendan Molyneaux and Paddy Mooney at a flat on Dublin’s Pearse Street was thrown into the waterway.

It is also thought a bike that may have been used by the killer was also flung into the canal, near the Docklands railway station, close to Spencer Dock.

Several Garda units, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda Water Unit and local officers, were involved in the search which began at around 10am.

They concentrated throughout the day on a particular area about the size of a football pitch.

Divers broke through surface ice to get underwater while other officers combed grass verges on the banks of the canal.

A Garda source said nothing was found during the search.

Detectives were yesterday granted extra time to question four suspects about the double killing at a flat in Pearse House, on Sunday night.

The prime suspect and his girlfriend are among those being quizzed.

It is believed a Finglas man, well known to gardaí, carried out the shootings and was targeting Mr Molyneaux (aged 45) in a pre-emptive strike connected to a bloody gangland feud.

Mr Mooney (aged 58) is thought to have been an innocent bystander caught up in the attack.