Gardai suspect this innocent mother-of-five was accidentally shot dead after she tried to disarm a man known to her.
Tragic Sandra Boyd, 36, was shot in the chest after gardai suspect she tried to stop a person known to her from leaving her family home with a handgun in Finglas in Dublin on Saturday night.
This publication has learned that Sandra was shot in front of many of her shocked family members, who had gathered for a birthday party of a relative at Collins Place when the horrific incident occurred at around 8.40pm.
Read more: Tributes to mum-of-five who died in Dublin shooting as gardai continue investigation
And in a heartbreaking tribute post on social media yesterday, Sandra’s devastated partner Darren Nolan posted several pictures of them together and wrote: “Love you forever.”
Meanwhile her distraught sister Megan said: “Sisters are forever, but mine was taken right before our eyes.
“Sandra Boyd you are my big sister that I adored every piece of you.
“If I knew my goodbye in the airport was forever I would of never let you go.
“I will hold your boys and baby girl as tight as you always did. Your love was endless. I love you so much.”
Officers believe brave Sandra lost her life after attempting to confront a man armed with a handgun inside the living room of the home.
It is suspected that the gun discharged during a row with the man, who was well known to the victim.
The incident was witnessed by several of her family members who are understood to have been enjoying a party at the time, when the gunman came in through the back door of the house armed with a handgun.
However the suspected gunman is believed to have fled the scene, and last night a massive Garda manhunt was continuing to try and locate him.
Meanwhile it is understood that gardai recovered the handgun from the scene — and a full-scale murder investigation is set to be launched.
Sources say the gunman had expressed intentions to leave the house with the gun to target another individual whom he was having an argument with.
Four days prior to Sandra’s shooting another house in Finglas West was targeted — and a number of shots were fired at it.
However that home is understood to have belonged to a completely innocent family — who were wrongly targeted by the gunman who had intended to target someone else.
Gardai are now investigating whether this incident is connected to the personal dispute between the gunman and the other man.
It is believed that the gunman intended to go out with the gun and target this individual, before he was confronted by Sandra — and shot her.
Sandra was described last night by pals as a “loving mother” and devoted sister, who in recent years had moved back to Dublin after spending some time living in the UK.
She was a mother to four boys and one little girl, who was born to her and her partner Darren in 2020.
Sources say she is a completely innocent victim and had no connection to the row between the gunman and the person he was feuding with.
Instead she became a victim by simply trying to prevent the gunman from leaving the house and carrying out a violent act.
Gardai yesterday said no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
A spokesperson added: “Gardai are appealing for anyone with information on this fatal shooting to contact investigating Gardai at Finglas Garda Station.
“An Garda Siochana are also appealing for any person driving in the area of Collins Park, Ballygall Road West or any adjacent/surrounding roads between 8pm and 9pm, particularly drivers of any vehicle or other roads users who may have video footage (Dashcam, GoPro or other) to contact investigating Gardai.
“The investigating gardai can be contacted at Finglas Garda Station 01 666 7500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”
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