‘Nine bullets landed in the flat’ as child hid under table

The Echo understands the incident centered on a dispute in the flat complex, in an area which has become increasingly volatile in recent years due to crime, anti-social behaviour and a culture of bullying and intimidation.

In the aftermath of the terrifying attack on March 6, Orla Connolly (Sinead’s sister) took Leah under her wing at the Bluebell one-bed flat she lives in with her husband Stephen.

Her mother Sinead

“Sinead is a victim but so is Leah, she has been through a lot, this never should have happened,” said Orla.

“Nine bullets landed in the flat, it could have been everyone in the house that got hit. Leah was under the table with her hands on her ears. It is hard to comprehend how she felt going through that and then seeing her Mammy on the sofa, praying to God that she wouldn’t die.”

Witnessing the attempted murder of her mother has naturally had a detrimental effect on young Leah’s mental health.

“She rocks back and forth and keeps saying ‘the noise’,” said Orla.

“I contacted Tusla but Leah still hasn’t seen anyone. Through her school at Oblates (Scoil Muire Gan Smal) in Inchicore, I got to see a psychotherapist, but Leah is the one who needs help.

“The last I heard from Tusla was early April. Ireland has a history of looking after victims when it is too late.

“I have got Leah into an after-school club, it is good for her to be mixing with kids again and getting used to noise. My step-daughter Amelia stays with us during the week as well, she is the same age as Leah, they get on,” Orla said about the two girls.

“Leah and Amelia were going to enjoy a pamper day for Leah’s birthday on March 8 but that never happened.

“Leah’s innocence was taken away that day. The boogeyman came after her – nightmare became a reality. Your home is supposed to be a safe place.”

To make matters worse, Leah has to walk by the scene of the crime everytime she goes to school.

“We live nearby and can only go two ways, each way you can see the flat, it is hard for Leah to walk past the block,” said Orla.

“I have asked Dublin City Council if we can get out of here. We both work, but were told to get a garda form, which they won’t give us.”

In recent years, Bluebell has cropped up again more frequently for serious crimes, Orla feels the area has “been left behind”.

“The crime and the dealing that goes on, people are afraid,” she said.

“In Ben Curtis and Le Touche House, there are a lot of elderly people. They are under siege. Young fellas come into my block, I run them out, but a lot of people are afraid to do that.

“Last week there was a stabbing in Bluebell in the middle of the day on the main road. Nobody knows why. Three weeks ago there was a young fella who was stabbed.

“The community development programme needs more funding. There was an increase of patrols after Sinead was shot but I’d love to see gardai interact more. When I was a kid here, we talked to community gardai. They need to go back to basics.”

Orla has set up a GoFundMe to assist Sinead in her recovery, and it is close to a €10k target as of Wednesday with over 170 donors.

“She is overwhelmed by the support and generosity of people, it has boosted her,” said Orla.

“Mentally she is all there thank God, but physically, from the waist down she has no feeling. She has the use of her head and arms.

“They lived in the middle floor of Bernard Curtis. There is no way she can go back there. She will need a house adapted to her needs and a specialized chair.

“Sinead was the baby in our family. A bubbly person. Walked everywhere. Yesterday, Leah went in to do her nails and she did Leah’s nails.”

Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com – Help Sinead and Leah rebuild their lives.