Shooting victim’s children escaped gun blitz on home
Gardai in hunt to find hitman
TWO young children had a lucky escape when a gunman riddled their dad with bullets, gardai said yesterday.
Dad of two Charlie Cooper was shot up to six times times when a hitman fired through the rear window of his home.
He is in a serious but stable condition following the attack in Mulhuddart, West Dublin, on Monday night.
Supt Liam Carolan yesterday said the victim was shot at his home in Parlickstown Green.
He was taken to James Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown for emergency surgery and gardai said his injuries are now described as not life-threatening.
Supt Carolan confirmed the man’s partner and two young children were in the house at the time but were unharmed in the incident.
He added: “No one else was injured but clearly there was a huge risk. The man’s children could have been injured, or worse, because of the number of bullets discharged.”
Mr Cooper is not known to gardai and has no previous criminal convictions.
Supt Carolan said it was currently unclear if the gunman, who was wearing dark clothing and a balaclava, was with a getaway driver or if he left the scene by himself. A dark car was reported leaving the scene a short time afterwards.
Supt Carolan said doorto-door enquiries were being conducted as gardai try to establish a motive.
He added: “We have also set up a number of highvisibility checkpoints in the area, and these will continue for some time.”
Gardai have urged anyone who was in the Parlickstown Green greater area of Mulhuddart on Monday between 5pm and 9pm to contact them.
Supt Carolan said: “We are also appealing to people or businesses in the area who have CCTV fitted in homes or commercial premises to contact Blanchardstown Garda station.”
They are also seeking taxi drivers or vehicles delivering fast food who may have been in locality to come forward.
Anyone who may have information can contact Blanchardstown Garda station on 01 6667000 or the Garda confidential line on 1800-666-111.