Gardai investigating the murder of Andy Connors in Saggart, Co Dublin have appealed for information about the movements of two stolen cars which were found in the aftermath of the shooting.
Connors (45) died after being shot at his west Dublin home in front of his wife and children on Tuesday night.
“These cars were stolen a month before the incident and fitted with false plates. Somebody may have noticed them parked in a car park or stored at some facility and if anyone has information about these cars we’d like to hear from them, ” Detective Inspector John Walsh of Tallaght Garda station said in a statement.
Gardaí have appealed for information on the movements of the cars. One car is a black Kia Sportage which was stolen in Kilkenny on July 16th but recovered in Mount Argus area in Dublin on Tuesday. Gardai said the car had ‘2011 LK’ plates when recovered but the original number plate was ’2012 KK’
Gardaí have also appealed for information on a while Opel Insignia car which was stolen in Carlow on July 14th. This car was recovered near the Blessington Road on the day of the shooting. It also had a false number plate. It waas originally ‘2010 C’ but when recovered bore a ‘2010 D’ registration.
The father-of-six attended a wedding in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, on Tuesday, but was spending the night at his home at Old Pound, Boherboy, Saggart, south Dublin, when he was gunned down.
A masked gunman entered the property through an unlocked door at about 11pm. At least six shots were fired, and Mr Connors was wounded several times in the upper body.
His wife, four of the couple’s children and a niece were present and witnessed the murder. The children range in ages from eight to 15 years.
As the killer escaped, the emergency services were alerted. Gardaí were at the scene in minutes, and the Garda helicopter was also scrambled to the area in the hope of identifying any getaway car speeding from the scene.
A garda gave Mr Connors CPR before paramedics arrived. However, although he was still alive on the ambulance journey to Tallaght hospital, Mr Connors was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Connors, had been involved in a fight with a prominent dissident republican earlier this year, gardaí believe. Regarded by gardaí as a prolific criminal, had also clashed with a Dublin businessman with strong links to organised crime, and had been subjected to extortion demands by the Real IRA.
Gardaí have urged anyone with information about the cars or any information about the incident to contact Tallaght Garda station on 01-6666000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111