Kneecapped man may lose his leg
GANGLAND: Victim told other option was death
A MAN may have to have his leg amputated after a gangland shooting in west Dublin.
The victim, in his 20s from Drimnagh, was shot twice in the legs in a kneecapping attack at Dunsink Lane last weekend. He was targeted after two men called to a house in Blanchards-town and demanded he travel with them to Dunsink Lane in nearby Finglas.
The man was then shot once in each leg and left at the scene. Another man then drove him to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, where he was admitted with his injuries, which were severe in one of his legs. Gardai were then notified.
Officers believe that the man was targeted by a group of Drimnagh-based criminals who had threatened him in a personal dispute.
The man was targeted hours after he returned from a six-week trip to in Blackpool. It is believed that he travelled there after having been threatened by the men earlier this year.
Gardai believe his enemies discovered he was attending a card game at a house in Phibsboro. According to sources, two men called to the property and told the man to travel with them to be shot in the knees. If he refused to do so he would instead be shot dead.
suspects
The victim travelled in the men's car to Dunsink Lane where he was shot and left in the lane. He called a friend who collected him and took him to hospital, it is understood.
Two rounds from a .22 handgun were found by gardai.
Officers are now trying to match the rounds to any other recent gang attacks, but are confident that they have identified suspects in the case. A source said: "We have two suspects in the case, we are aware of their whereabouts and they will be interviewed in due course.
The victim received injuries to both legs but one is particularly bad. He is undergoing ongoing treatment but there is a risk that the limb may have be amputated."
The victim of the attack has lost a brother, who was murdered in a killing in south Dublin a number of years ago over an unrelated matter.
clooney@herald.ie
- Cormac Looney
