Father of three shot dead on way to work
Gardaí ‘perplexed’ over killing as victim was not linked to serious crime
AN innocent father of three was shot dead outside his north Dublin home yesterday as his pregnant partner and children slept inside.
John Lawless, 39, was gunned down as he left his home at Marigold Crescent in Darndale to go to work at 6.30am.
Senior gardaí are ‘perplexed’ by the fatal shooting as there is ‘no intelligence’ to suggest Mr Lawless was linked to serious crime.
He had some very minor criminal convictions, the most recent being for possession of a small amount of cannabis herb for personal use in 2015. But sources stressed there is ‘no Garda intelligence’ linking him to any organised criminal activity or gang.
A senior source said: ‘It’s a bit of a head scratcher at the moment. He was a decent, hardworking family man. His family are understandably devastated.’
Gardaí say Mr Lawless was not involved in organised crime, and well-placed sources say officers at Coolock are now probing whether the victim – described as an innocent man – had ‘fallen foul of criminals over a personal dispute’. However, the investigation remains ‘wide open’.
Mr Lawless, who worked as a fire safety officer, was killed as he left his home after exiting via the back door shortly before 6.30am yesterday.
He was gunned down as he walked towards his car down a laneway beside the home he shares with his partner.
Gardaí later discovered a burntout car nearby.
Officers at Coolock yesterday held a press conference, where Superintendent Gerard Donnelly appealed for witnesses.
He said: ‘A 39-year-old man left his home at Marigold Crescent, John Lawless is his name, and he was making his way to work when he was shot.
‘He was brought in a critical condition to Beaumont Hospital and died a short time after his arrival.
‘Shortly after the shooting, a burnt-out car was discovered at Greenwood Avenue.
‘This car is described as a silver Ford Focus, with a 132 registration number. Now we believe this car may have some connection with the shooting incident.
‘This is a car... which we believe was stolen on January 1 this year in the Santry area.’
The senior officer continued: ‘Two scenes were examined: the scene at Marigold Crescent where the shooting took place and the scene at Greenwod Avenue where the car was located. These scenes were examined by the Garda Technical Bureau.
‘We are in consultation with the local Coroner’s Office, we are also in consultation with the State Pathologist office and a post mortem is currently taking place at the city mortuary in Whitehall.
‘At this stage, we have no known motive for this shooting.’
Superintendent Donnelly said Mr Lawless ‘left his home this morning on the way to work’, adding: ‘He is not a person who was known to us for involvement in serious criminal activity.’
He also explained that the investigation remained wide open.
‘A conference has already been held here at Coolock Garda Station and a further conference will be held later on this evening,’ he said yesterday. The senior officer also appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the shooting at
‘Number of lines of investigation’
Marigold Crescent, or any motorist who witnessed the silver car driving from Darndale to Greenwod Avenue – or anyone with information – to contact them.
He added: ‘I would also make an appeal here: the Lawless family, they have lost a partner, a son, a brother and I appeal for them to be respected at this time.’
He also said that ‘we are satisfied at this stage’ that there is no organised crime link, adding: ‘All the indications are that it may be something in the local area.
‘We will adjust our policing arrangements in accordance with the investigation as it progresses.
‘We have a number of lines of inquiry which are pointing in a number of directions at the moment and we are exploring all avenues.
‘No firearm has been recovered. We believe [the weapon] is a handgun from the ammunition we picked up at the scene.’