Irish Daily Mirror

SHOOTOUT ON THE STREETS

Gun gangs spray bullets in horror video

- BY NIALL O’CONNOR

A Gun-toting thug opens fire in the street as drug gangs clash in a deadly running battle.

The terrifying incident in Corduff, West Dublin, is the latest in a spate of attacks between dealers after a split.

Our exclusive video shows men chasing the fleeing shooter and firing back. A source said yesterday: “Both factions are at war.”

THIS is the moment a terrifying gun battle breaks out on an Irish street as drug gangs go to war.

The incident sparked a series of attacks in the Corduff area of West Dublin – including an overnight double shooting.

Sources claimed there had been at least seven gun incidents after a gang of street dealers split.

A source said: “This is a very serious situation at the moment. No one has been injured as yet but there have been shootings of property.

“Essentiall­y there has been an internal row in a gang and they are now split. Both factions are at war.”

Our exclusive pictures show two men approach a street in Corduff Grove near Blanchards­town.

One hoodie-wearing thug pulls out a gun and two muzzle flashes can be seen as he opens fire.

Another view shows members of the opposing faction ducking for cover – before a youth, dressed in black and carrying a handgun, leads the chase.

Our pictures show the moment he shoots at the fleeing gunman and accomplice who fired the first rounds.

The latest incidents happened overnight where two attacks took place.

The first was at 10pm on Tuesday night when the front of a family home was shot up in the Corduff Avenue area. The second incident took place at 1am yesterday when the window of a house was blasted.

No one was injured in these terrifying shootings but it is now feared the feud is escalating.

A Garda spokeswoma­n said: “Gardai are also investigat­ing an incident that occurred at Corduff Avenue, Blanchards­town, D15, on February 12 2019 at approximat­ely 10pm.

“Shots were allegedly fired at the front of a house. No injuries were reported and investigat­ions are ongoing. Gardai are investigat­ing an that occurred at Corduff Place, Blanchards­town D15.

“Shots were allegedly fired at a front window of a house at around 1am [yesterday]. No injuries were reported and investigat­ions are ongoing.” The gang at the centre of the dispute have been subject to a large amount of Garda attention in recent weeks. Armed gardai and units from Blanchards­town launched a blitz against the gang last Wednesday.

The leaders of the original gang come from a family of thugs who sources claim have been using children to carry drugs.

Six properties were searched under warrant by the District Detective Unit, and uniformed gardai, following recent investigat­ions into the crimiincid­ent nality in that area. Armed assistance was provided by the Emergency Response Unit and Armed Support Unit.”

The long list of seized items included €21,335 across two properties, 20 phones and a signal blocker which assists organised criminals.

There were also weapons – two imitation handguns and machetesty­le knives – and two stolen motorbikes. The officers also found large quantities of prescripti­on and recreation­al drugs along with evidence of the bagging of drugs into deals for distributi­on.

A source said: “Gardai are absolutely aware of the split in the gang and they are putting a job together on them.

“This tactic to launch search operations has been used before, particular­ly in Limerick, during the

early days of feuds. It puts pressure on them. This gang are a callous bunch and have been involved in serious public order incidents as well as assaults.

“One of them launched a devastatin­g attack on a man with weapons in public in the past – shootings are nothing new to them.

“They are essentiall­y enforcers who are not afraid of dealing out brutal beatings. Gardai had received a lot of intelligen­ce and they shut down their operation.”

Sinn Fein Councillor Paul Donnelly has called on the violence to stop.

He added: “Over the past week or so there has been an escalating level of violence that has left the Corduff community very frightened.

“There have been at least four shootings, some in broad daylight that thankfully has not resulted in any deaths or injuries, however, it’s only a matter of time.

“The other outcome is that when you fire a shot from a shotgun or handgun blindly, in broad daylight, your bullet will most likely miss your intended target – as has happened twice – and some totally innocent person could get caught up and shot by a stray bullet. There’s no point being sorry afterwards if a child, young person or adult is in hospital or worse, being carried into church.

“I am making a direct appeal to those to stop and think, we know where this is going and what the consequenc­es will be.

“Your families, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children will be left visiting a grave in Mulhuddart cemetery for the rest of their lives if you don’t stop and try work this out through mediation.

“I will make a commitment to get a mediator to help stop this madness. Corduff has come a long way and has built up a wonderful reputation as a great place to live.

“Please stop and think and let’s keep it that way.”

 ??  ?? GIVING CHASE Armed gang race after attacker DEADLY INTENT Thug fires shots in West Dublin street
GIVING CHASE Armed gang race after attacker DEADLY INTENT Thug fires shots in West Dublin street
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? STORY Mirror’s Niall O’connor at the scene
STORY Mirror’s Niall O’connor at the scene
 ??  ?? ARMED & DEADLY Hooded gang members lead the chase at Corduff Grove, West Dublin
ARMED & DEADLY Hooded gang members lead the chase at Corduff Grove, West Dublin

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland