Community shocked and upset at shooting incident
INVESTIGATION: Gardai at the scene in Hazel Grove on Wednesday

Community shocked and upset at shooting incident

THE COMMUNITY in Tallaght are shocked following the shooting of a 36-year-old man in a farmland on Tuesday.

The man, who has been named locally as Keith Conlon from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, was shot in the head in a rural field which is used for farming in the Hazel Grove area of Tallaght on Tuesday afternoon, February 22, just shortly before 1pm.

Mr Conlon was taken to Tallaght University Hospital to be treated for his injuries and remains in critical condition.

It is understood that Mr Conlon is a dog breeder, and Gardai are currently investigating whether an issue arose over a dog which resulted in him being shot.

It is understood Mr Conlon was out hunting with his dog with two other people at the time of the shooting and a dog was also allegedly shot dead during the incident, with Gardai recovering the body of the animal from the field.

According to local Tallaght councillor Mick Duff, the community has been left “shocked” after the incident.

“I think everybody was just shocked when they heard the news,” Cllr Duff told The Echo.

“It is hard to believe that something like that could happen in such a quiet area, especially in the middle of the day. It is such a tragedy and completely and totally out of the blue.

“You just wonder what the circumstances were that drove this person to do that.”

Councillor Charlie O’Connor echoed this, stating that the general feeling of people in the area is “genuine shock and upset”.

“People that have spoken to me up at the site when I visited and afterwards have reflected the fact that they are very upset, which you would expect,” he said.

“To think, it happened only a mile from Tallaght – everyone in the community is in shock.

“I want to appeal to people to please co-operate with the gardai who are investigating into this shocking and sad incident.”

A man, aged in his early 50s, was arrested at the scene. It is understood that the man is a legal professional.

He is currently detained at Tallaght Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.

The scene is currently preserved for a technical examination to be conducted by the Garda Technical Bureau and Gardai are appealing for anyone with information who may have been the Hazel Grove area of Tallaght to come forward.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

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