A man was fighting for his life last night after he was shot in the head following an incident on farmland on Tuesday.
The victim, named locally as Keith Conlon, was with at least two others and had a lurcher dog when they are believed to have been hunting for rabbits in Hazel Grove, Tallaght, South Dublin.
Gardai are probing if a dispute broke out between 34-year-old Mr Conlon and another man, not known to him. It’s understood a number of warning shots were fired at the dog before words were exchanged between the pair.
On Tuesday, Mr Conlon’s pals – who arrived briefly at the scene – claimed he had turned away when a shot was fired and he was struck in the head. The lurcher dog was also shot and killed in the incident. Gardai and paramedics treated Mr Conlon at the scene before he was rushed to Tallaght University hospital where gardai say he is currently in critical condition.
A man in his early 50s was arrested at the scene and was last night being questioned by detectives from Tallaght Garda station on suspicion of reckless discharge of a firearm. A legally held handgun used in the incident has been recovered and will be sent for ballistics examination.
A source said: “It’s in the initial stages of the investigation but obviously it’s a very serious incident where there is a man fighting for his life. There is a man in custody and gardai are now gathering evidence and trying to find out everything that happened here.”
Mr Conlon, who also went by the surname of Greene, is from the Tallaght area and is known for having dogs and horses. The Dubliner had worked as a deckhand on a sailing boat before he became a dog breeder. Gardai will interview two of Mr Conlon’s pals who were with him at the time of the shooting to try and establish the details of the incident.
Yesterday, the Garda Technical Bureau, along with search teams, combed and examined the scene in a bid for evidence. Local Fianna Fail Cllr Charlie O’Connor said people were stunned at the incident.
Speaking from the scene, he said: “This is not a place you go rambling out from Tallaght from a village or from an estate. You go beyond Tallaght and Jobstown, it’s a very quiet, rural and desolate place. It has caused a lot of shock and upset in the Tallaght area as any shooting would. But I certainly as a public representative would want to appeal to people to please co-operate with the Tallaght gardai who are investigating this shocking and sad incident.”
A Garda spokesman added: “Gardai are investigating a serious shooting incident that occurred at a premises in the Hazel Grove area of Tallaght, Co Dublin [Tuesday] afternoon.
“Gardai and emergency services attended the scene just after 1pm.
“A man, aged in his 30s, received an apparent gunshot wound and was taken to Tallaght University Hospital where he remains in critical condition. A man, aged in his early 50s, was arrested at the scene.
“Gardai are appealing for anyone with information who may have been the Hazel Grove area of Tallaght to come forward.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000.”
