Betting shop shooting is linked to bloody gang feud
Gardai on Killester Avenue, Donnycarney, where Christy Barry was shot dead
GARDAI are linking the vicious murder of a young father in a bookie's office at the weekend to the gang feud that has now claimed 11 lives.
Officers confirmed last night that victim Christy Barry (24) was an associate of one of the Dublin gang leaders.
His killer fired 11 shots and Barry was hit several times in the head and body during the broad-daylight assasination.
Barry had previously been friendly with several members of a rival gang but, as the feud escalated, he was identified as being a close ally of a key player in the Crumlin-Drimnagh row and became a target.
Attempts have been made on the lives of several gang members in recent months, but this was the first murder directly linked to the feud since December 2006, when Eddie McCabe was beaten to death.
Three others have also been killed by gang members, but their deaths were not directly connected to the feuding.
Barry's murder has raised fresh fears of bloody retaliation.
Last night two suspects were being questioned by detectives about the shooting.
They were detained by gardai in Tallaght shortly after the murder and several houses were searched as part of the investigation.
Gardai confiscated a number of items from the houses and also seized a van, which they suspected was linked to the gunman's getaway.
Barry, who lived a short distance from the murder scene at Middle Third, in Killester, was the father of a young girl and had been preparing for her Christening ceremony this week. He was in Byrne's betting office on Killester Avenue in Donnycarney, shortly before 3pm on Saturday, when a lone gunman, wearing a motorcycle helmet, burst in and opened fire with a handgun.
Several customers fled from the shop as he singled out Barry and fired 11 times.
Gunman
The gunman then ran outside and jumped onto a motorcycle, which he abandoned around the corner, at La Vista Lane.
Last night, forensic experts were trying to establish whether the van seized in Tallaght had been the vehicle used to collect the gunman after set fire to the motorcycle.
Barry was known by gardai to have been involved in drug trafficking and, in 2005, he received a two-year suspended sentence for possession of drugs.
Two suspects, aged 22 and 23 years, were being held last night at Raheny and Clontarf garda stations.
Their periods of detention were extended yesterday evening by a senior garda officer.
They can be held, without charge, for up to three days.
A 50-strong team of detectives has been established at Raheny station.
Gardai appealed for help from anybody who noted any suspicious activity in the Killester area between 2.30pm and 3.15pm on Saturday to contact them at Raheny,on 01-6664300, or on the confidential line, 1800 666111.
Gardai carried out door to door inquiries around Killester Avenue, while friends and family laid flowers near the betting office.
One of the messages read: "You'll never be forgotten, I thought we would have had more time."
A friend who grew up with Barry in Killester said he was "chatty and friendly and full of life".
He was "mad about" his little daughter and was looking forward to her christening.
A woman who saw the gunman fleeing the scene said: "I saw a guy getting on a bike. He drove on the path. He had it parked outside the bookies".
She reported hearing "a good few sounds, a horrible sound" and then heard screaming as people ran out of the bookies.
Read more about this story at Herald.ie.
- Tom Brady and Louise Hogan
