Shatter: Gun law 'unacceptable'; Gardaí probe Tallaght shooting

Gardaí in Dublin are appealing for witnesses after a 16-year-old girl died following a shooting incident in Tallaght last night at around 10.35pm.

She was sitting in a silver-coloured Nissan Almera car in Brookview Way with three others when her killer opened fire from a black Hyundai Santa Fe SUV that pulled up alongside.

Investigators believe the SUV was fitted with false '07 D' registration plates.

The girl has been named locally as Melanie McCarthy, also known as Melanie McNamara.

At least one shot was fired from the Hyundai into the car, shattering the side window and hitting the teenager in the head.

She was two weeks from her 17th birthday.

The driver of the Nissan rushed her to Tallaght Hospital where, despite intensive efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead around 1am.

Her body was removed to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination by the state pathologist.

The girl lived with her family in the Drumcairn Avenue area of Tallaght. They were formerly from Newcastle West in Co Limerick.

Gardaí would not be drawn on reports the incident was as a result of a family feud.

One line of inquiry is that the shooting was linked to a falling out between traveller families.

“It is believed she may not have been the intended target,” said a garda source.

A black Hyundai Santa Fe was later found abandoned in the Citywest area of Tallaght but was not burnt out.

Superintendent John Gilligan from the Garda Press Office says the car was stolen.

Supt Gilligan said: "The black jeep that we're seeking assistance with left the scene as well.

"It's a black Hyundai Santa Fe, it was carrying 07-D plates".

"It left the scene until it got to Browns Barn in the Citywest where it was abandoned."

The vehicle made its way from the scene of the shooting along Brookview Avenue and into Fortunestown Lane before being abandoned near Brown’s Barn.

It is thought the escape journey may have taken just five minutes, and Gardaí believe witnesses may have noticed the killer or killers during the getaway.

They have appealed for anyone who saw the black SUV to get in contact.

Chief Superintendent John Manley, who is leading the inquiry, described the killing as a particularly heinous crime.

Appealing for information, he said: “I want to reassure the public that we will give them every support that we can, but likewise I hope the public will give us the support that we need.”

No-one else was injured in the attack but the three other people in the Nissan car – understood to all be men in their 20s – were left traumatised, Gardai said.

The victim was sitting in the rear passenger side seat when she was hit.

Ballistic tests have yet to be completed, but detectives suspect a shotgun was used. It is thought it may have been fired more than once.

House-to-house inquiries are being carried out in the area.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the killing was an appalling and totally barbaric tragedy.

“This is an absolutely horrific incident. These type of incidents will not be tolerated,” he said.

“Gun law on the streets of Tallaght, or any other part of the city or county of Dublin or anywhere else in the country, is entirely unacceptable.

“Unfortunately, we have groups of people in the State who have no respect for human life and quite frankly, we have too many people accessing guns.”

Mr Shatter extended his sympathy to family, friends and neighbours of the dead girl and appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.

The minister told Newstalk radio that he expected to get a briefing on the investigation from Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan later in the day.

"All violent deaths are shocking but the killing of a young person especially so. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to her family and friends,'' said Mr Shatter.

“The gardaí have a major investigation under way, an incident room has been established, and technical and forensic examinations are being carried out.”

The minister added: “The gardaí are determined to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. And we as a Government are determined to do everything we can to support them.”