Dublin Police Step Up Security After Christmas Shooting

Facts

• Republic of Ireland (ROI) police have increased their security presence in Dublin after a shooting on Christmas eve killed one man and injured another. The police — known as the Gardaí — are investigating the incident which occurred at Browne’s Steakhouse on Blanchardstown main street.¹
• Two men were wounded during the attack and taken to James Connolly Memorial hospital, where one victim in his 20s was pronounced dead. The other victim, a man in his 40s, is receiving treatment for his wounds and remains in critical condition.²
• The Gardaí identified 26-year-old Tristan Sherry as the gunman and stated that the attack was part of an ongoing feud between rival organized crime gangs. The victims were a father and son, and footage obtained shows patrons of the restaurant fleeing the scene.³
• Sherry was stabbed 30 times after he shot his victims and subsequently died — the Gardaí have said that retaliatory attacks are inevitable. The conflict reportedly stems from a long-running dispute between gangs in the Corduff and Finglas areas of north Dublin.⁴
• Local and national politicians condemned the attack, with Justice Minister Helen McEntee saying: “This viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas.” Prime Minister Leo Varadkar also said he was “shocked” by the attack.⁵
• The Gardaí have asked the public to not share videos of the shooting online, and the Gardaí National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is reportedly aiding the investigation. A Garda family liaison officer has also been appointed to both families.⁶

Sources: ¹Guardian, ²BBC News (a), ³RTE.ie, ⁴The Irish Times, ⁵BBC News (b) and ⁶TheJournal.ie.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Daily Mail. Organized crime and drug trafficking have long bubbled under the surface of Dublin, but public attacks are now starting to become more common as gang kingpins become emboldened to break the law. Police are rightfully worried about the inevitable wave of attacks to come, but they are clearly ill-equipped to handle the rise of violent crime plaguing the capital.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Irish Sun. The Dublin shooting on Christmas was undoubtedly a tragedy, especially as it affected innocent members of the public. Irish authorities are working to investigate the roots of the attack and ensure that any further incidents are thwarted. Police know that they must be on the lookout for potential danger and will do whatever it takes to keep citizens safe.