Gardaí investigating the fatal shooting of Dubliner Aidan O'Kane (50), who was subject to sustained intimidation by a gang of youths, have arrested a sixth teenager.
The teenage boy, whose age has not been disclosed, was arrested this morning and is being held at Whitehall Garda Station.
Five other teenagers remain in custody over the shooting of Mr O’Kane in East Wall in Dublin on Sunday night.
Mr O'Kane was at his home on Shelmalier Road, when his house or car was damaged by objects thrown by a gang of 10 youths at about 7.15pm.
He pursued members of the group on to nearby Bargy Road when one pulled a handgun and fired at him. He was hit once in the stomach.
Mr O'Kane was taken by ambulance to the Mater hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The five youths, who were arrested yesterday, are aged between 13 and 19. They are all being held under Section 30 of Offences Against the State Act at Store Street and Mountjoy Garda stations. The periods of detention for the four youngest suspects were extended for a further 24 hours tonight.
The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, said: “The possibility that very young people would be in possession of and use a firearm is an ominous development in the serious problem of violence in Dublin city."
Dr Martin said incidents of this nature could leave an entire community with a new sense of insecurity.
“I unreservedly condemn those who would have in any way contributed to allowing weapons to pass into the hands of young people or of dragging young people into violent action in any way,” he said.
An appeal for witnesses to the shooting was made yesterday with gardaí calling on young people and parents in particular to contact them if they have information.
“I would ask parents who saw any tell-tale signs, people who came home in a distressed or upset state, youngsters who may have been acting unusual, to come forward,” Assistant Garda Commissioner Alan McHugh said.
The killing was the 20th gun murder this year and came less than a month after Limerick man Shane Geoghegan (28) was shot dead in a case of mistaken identity.