Dublin shot dead Real IRA investigated

Gardai are investigation whether the fatal shooting of a man in west Dublin is linked to dissident republicanism.




Liam Kenny (53) died in hospital after being shot several times at 4.05am at his home in Shancastle Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.



Gardaí said at least two armed men tried to force their way into the house, which is a council housing estate close to the Liffey Valley shopping centre.



They broke a hole in the front door, through which the father-of-four was shot. He was taken to James Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown where he was later pronounced dead.



A number of family members were in the house at the time of the incident, a Garda statement said. "No one else was injured in the incident. The culprits fled the scene. Investigations are ongoing."



A grey Nissan Qashqai, with a 10 D registration, was later found burned out in the Steeples estate in Chapelizod, about 3km from the scene of the shooting. Gardaí are trying to establish if this is linked to the killing.



Superintendent John Gilligan said: “This car is important in terms of the investigation and we believe that it was used as a getaway car.”



Gardaí in Ronanstown have appealed for anyone with information about killing, which is the second gun-related killing in the area in just over two weeks, to contact them.



A man was shot dead by a gunman as he sat in the back of a car near his parents’ home in Moorfield Avenue, also in Clondalkin, on May 25th. Dean Johnson (20), was a convicted drug dealer, although detectives believe he operated on the fringes of the drugs scene.



Clondalkin Sinn Féin councillor Matthew McDonagh, who lives close to the scene of today’s shooting, said the area was shocked by the killing. “Especially the age of the man, at 53. We have to condemn it,” he said. “This is the second one (shooting) in the last three weeks (in Clondalkin). From a young man to a man in his mid 50s.”



Mr McDonagh said he hoped the gun attack would not spark further violence.