Gardaí investigate drug link to Athy shooting

Gardaí believe a man shot dead on a housing estate in Athy, Co Kildare on Saturday night was most likely targeted in a localised drug-related dispute rather than over any issue connected to his involvement with criminals in his native Dublin.

The dead man, 20-year-old Jamie Lindsay, was from Finglas in north Dublin.

Gardaí believe Jamie Lindsay was shot in or near a laneway on the Coneyboro housing estate in Athy, Co Kildare, to which he had moved about two years ago.

When local gardaí arrived on the estate at 8.40pm on Saturday after responding to reports of gunfire in the area they found Mr Lindsay lying wounded on the pavement.

He was taken by ambulance to Naas General Hospital but he was critically ill and despite efforts to save his life was pronounced dead at 10.10pm.

He lived on the same estate where he was fatally injured, sharing a house with his partner at nearby Coney Meadows.

Garda sources said the dead man had convictions for a range of crimes including public order offences and road traffic matters. He was also suspected of involvement in low level drug dealing.

He is believed to have engaged in that activity in Athy after he moved from Finglas, apparently because he had been threatened in Dublin.

Gardaí say while the murder investigation is in the early stages, they are examining his activities in the Athy area of late.

This article was ammended on April 25th, 2013.