Gardaí name Ballymun shooting victim; looking for cyclist in hi-viz jacket
Gardaí in Dublin are trying to figure out a motive for this morning’s fatal shooting on the northside of the city.
The victim of the shooting has been named as 48-year-old father of one John O’Regan who was shot a number of times as he cycled on Gateway Avenue in Ballymun.
Mr O'Regan had a number of minor convictions in the 1980s but nothing of consequence since then.
It is believed the victim had moved to nearby Barnewall Gardens from Finglas, also on Dublin’s northside, in recent years.
Local Fine Gael representative Noel Rock said the victim might have been targeted as he had recently witnessed two murders in the capital.
“He was a decent fellow who had been living there for a few years with his wife and a young enough child,” he said.
“Unfortunately, he had witnessed two murders in the past and seems to have been the victim of a targeted killing. He found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is dreadfully sad.”
It is believed there were between five and 10 witnesses to this morning’s killing.
But Mr Rock said there was a difficulty in getting people to come forward.
“This is a dark day for Ballymun,” he said.
“People in the area are shocked and quite intimidated. This happened within 50 metres of Ballymun Garda station.
“So whoever carried this out has no fear of the police and no respect for law and order.”
Gardaí have launched a murder investigation and Superintendent Paul Moran from Ballymun Garda Station appealed for the public's help.
Supt Moran said: "What we are particularly interested in at this stage is, we are looking for a person who was leaving Gateway Avenue, cycling a bicycle and who went on to the Ballymun Road.
"What's unusual was he was wearing a hi-viz jacket and a baseball cap and this person chose to cycle on the footpaths."
