Brother of Irish sports star shot dead in Barcelona as police launch manhunt

Manhunt underway after brother of Irish sports star killed in Barcelona. Picture: AP Photo/Manu Mielniezuk

A brother of a well-known Irish sports star has been shot dead in Barcelona, Spain.

The 36-year-old man, originally from Dublin’s north inner city, was killed in the Carrer de Balmes area on Thursday morning at around 9am.

In the aftermath of the shooting, a large police tent was erected at the scene.

A manhunt for the suspected shooter has been launched by the local Guàrdia Urbana, however, Spanish police have recovered the suspected weapon and released CCTV images of a man they are seeking in connection with the shooting.

Reports indicate that ammunition from a magazine was discovered at a bus stop in Plaça de Gal·la Placídia.

According to local media reports the victim is believed to have been shot in the head on a busy city street in front of the National Police ID and passport office.

It is understood that local police are treating the attack as a "targeted assassination" linked to organised crime.

A local resident who lives close to the dead man’s parents in Dublin said: “His parents are highly respected in the area.

"They really are lovely people, as is his older brother, who did his country proud in the sport which made him so well known.

“Word is spreading fast around the local community as to who the Irishman who died is. So many people respect his family and his well-known brother.” 

Garda HQ and the Department of Foreign Affairs have been contacted for comment.