Lucky escape for Donore’s club president
By Maurice Garvey
A SPORTS club president had a lucky escape after a bullet fired at his van, ricocheted and lodged in the back of the parked vehicle.
Van owner Tom Byrne, President of Donore Harriers athletics club, was in a board meeting at the time of the bizarre incident, which occurred at the clubhouse grounds on Chapelizod Road, on Monday, April 11.
Club members heard what they thought were “firecrackers” outside, but it wasn’t until the next day that Tom discovered the disturbing sight of a bullet hole lodged in the side of his van.
Firhouse resident Tom Byrne quipped he was lucky to survive a presidential assassination attempt from the “grassy knoll”, but admits the situation and mystery surrounding the phantom shooter is extremely “worrying.”
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“It’s not funny, the bullet was at head height – it could have killed someone,” said Mr Byrne.
The bullet entered the side of the van, pinged off the dividing front/back panel, and lodged in behind a piece of plywood on the other side of the van.
Recalling the incident, Byrne says members heard a “bang, bang – then quiet – then bang, bang.”
He said: “We figured it was firecrackers and thought no more of it. I only discovered it the next day and contacted gardaí.
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“It was lucky that the van was there, or it could have hit something or someone else. You could be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Ballyfermot Gardaí are investigating the incident and have appealed for assistance from the public.
A Garda spokesperson said: “No motive or suspect has been established yet.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Ballyfermot Garda Station at 666 7200.
