Drimnagh shooting: Three arrests as gardai appeal for witnesses

SUPERINTENDENT Paul Maher has appealed for witnesses to an incident in Drimnagh over the weekend that resulted in a man in his early twenties being shot dead.

Speaking at Sundrive Garda Station on Monday afternoon, Super Maher said that three people have been arrested in relation to the investigation and are currently detained at Garda stations in Dublin.

Supt Maher confirmed that at approximately 12.15am on Monday, gardai received a number of calls in relation to shots being fired at Knocknarea Road, Drimnagh.

Gardai responding to the scene discovered two vehicles a black Mercede Benz and a black Volkswagon Golf, which appeared to have been in a collision.

A male in his early 20s, named locally as Josh Itseli from the Ballyfermot area, was discovered with gunshot wounds.

Gardai offered first aid and despite attempts by gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics the male was pronounced deceased at the scene, Supt Maher said.

He added: “Gardai became aware of a potential explosive device on Knocknarea Court.

“The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was requested to attend the scene.

The device was made safe by the Army EOD team and removed from the scene.  The device will be subject to further technical examination.”

Shortly after the reports of the shooting, a Garda Regional Armed Support Unit encountered three men on Slievebloom Road – two are in their early twenties and one is a teenaged youth.

The three men were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and are detained at Garda Stations in Dublin.

The scene at Knocknarea Road was sealed off.

Supt Maher said: “A number of other vehicles have been damaged on Knocknarea Road and remain part of the scene and technical examination.

“Another vehicle of interest has been identified on Sperrin Road and is also subject of technical examination at this time. This is a Silver Ford Focus.”

An incident room has been established at Sundrive Road Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer.

A family liaison officer has been appointed and a formal identification of the deceased is still to take place.

A number of scenes are now subject of technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau, Garda Headquarters and Divisional Scenes of Crime Units.

Investigating gardai are now appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

In particular gardai are appealing for any person with dashcam or other form of vehicle video footage and who were in the Knocknarea Road area between 11.30pm and 12.30pm on Sunday night/Monday morning, May 5/6, and to make any footage available to An Garda Síochána.

Gardai are also appealing for any person with CCTV footage in the wider area of Cooley Road, Brandon Road, Errigal Gardens, Crumlin Road, Slievenamon Road, Mourne Road and associated side roads and who were in the Knocknarea Road area between 11.30pm and 12.30pm on Sunday night to make any footage available to An Garda Síochána.

Anyone with any information that can assist gardai in this murder investigation is asked to contact Sundrive Road Garda Station on 01 666 6600, or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.