GARDAÍ in Limerick are checking more than 200 hours of CCTV footage as part of an investigation into a gangland shooting.
Some 70 gardaí have been assigned to the case following the gun attack that left Daniel Phillips fighting for his life in hospital.
The 20-year-old suffered gunshot wounds to his head and chest after he was targeted by a gunman in the St John’s Square area of the city at 9.30pm last Monday.
At a special sitting of Limerick District Court late on Wednesday night, gardaí were granted extra time to question two suspects in the case.
Chief Supt Dave Sheahan said CCTV footage was obtained from 125 premises around the scene of the shooting. Seven spent bullet shells were recovered at the scene, but the weapon, believed to be a handgun, has not yet been recovered.
The shells and a mobile phone have been sent to Garda Headquarters in Dublin for forensic testing.
Searches for the firearm continued yesterday, while the victim’s condition remained “critical” according to a spokesperson for Cork University Hospital.
Mr Phillips was driving a black Volkswagen Passat and was trying to reverse away from the St John’s area when the gunman fired two volleys at the car.
A 27-year-old man was brought before the special sitting of Limerick District Court, where the State successfully applied to have his period of detention extended by a further 72 hours.
The court heard he is being held on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and that he had been interviewed by gardaí on nine separate occasions until his court appearance.
Chief Supt Sheahan said video footage from 125 cameras in the area has been sourced and that there were 200 hours of playing time yet to be viewed. He said 15 gardaí had been assigned to carry out house-to-house inquiries in the area, and 70 gardaí were working on the case “at any given time”.
Judge Tom O’Donnell was told potential witnesses identified on the CCTV footage have yet to be interviewed.
A 26-year-old woman, arrested on suspicion of withholding information about the shooting, also appeared before the same special court sitting. Gardaí were given a further 24 hours to question her.