Enda Kenny to visit Dublin area hit by latest gangland killing

Taoiseach condemns ‘vicious, murderous’ dispute following shooting of Gareth Hutch

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to visit the area in Dublin’s north inner city where the latest gangland killing occurred. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is to visit the area in Dublin’s north inner city where the latest gangland killing occurred.

Mr Kenny told the Dáil on Tuesday he would do so at the invitation of Dublin Central Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan.

He said he absolutely condemned the shooting dead of Gareth Hutch on North Cumberland Street and the wounding of another man on Tuesday morning.

“These people have no respect for life or limb,’’ he said.

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He said there was “a vicious, murderous” dispute between two families.

“And I don’t think I can stop that,’’ he said.

“But I think, from the Government point of view, we can provide the resources and the wherewithal that the Garda Commissioner needs to have her forces deal with this in the way they have to.’’

Mr Kenny said senior gardaí had assured him the resources were being made available to tackle this issue.

Painstaking work was being done by gardaí, Mr Kenny added.

He said that, despite a nearby armed checkpoint, the killers had entered a flats complex and murdered Gareth Hutch.

Government response

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he was disappointed with the Government's response, adding it was not just about Garda resources.

Mr Martin condemned the recent murders and said the gangland situation was out of control.

He said local people reported that intimidation was rife across the north inner city community, while young people were receiving up to €200 for the distribution of tablets in the area.

He said local community groups were saying the supports for the area set up from the late 1990s onwards had been eroded in recent years.

Mr Kenny said nobody disputed that fear stalked the streets in these communities.

“It is not normal to have 1,000 intensive armed checkpoints since February in any location,’’ he said. “And that is what is being done.’’

Michael O'Regan

Michael O'Regan

Michael O’Regan is a former parliamentary correspondent of The Irish Times