Shocked onlookers gathered outside Store Street Garda station in Dublin last night after a man who had been shot while driving his car veered up on to the pavement near Dublin’s Busáras and Red Luas line.
It is believed the man was shot by another person on a motor bike after being pursued. The lone gunman fled the scene, while his target ran into the Garda station. The injured man was shot through the window of the car at about 9.30pm.
The man, understood to be in his 30s, was driving a silver Mercedes and eye witnesses heard two shots being fired. The man, who is known to gardaí, was seen driving the car onto the footpath.
As he ran into the Garda station he was seen clutching his stomach and head.
A red Ford Focus Garda car arrived almost immediately on the scene. The man was taken to the Mater hospital, where his condition was described as serious but stable.
The Mercedes car was abandoned halfway on the path and on the Luas tracks. The back windscreen was blown out and the driver’s door left open.
Christoph Daneels from France was sitting in a nearby hotel. “I just heard two loud bangs, I had no idea what was happening,” he said. “When I came out we saw the gardaí getting out of a car and walking into the station.”
Another eyewitness, a taxi driver parked at Busáras, said it looked like the man had been pursued by the person on the motorbike.
“It looked like he made an illegal turn around Amiens Street and was being pursued by someone. The gardaí followed behind him in an unmarked car and drove up onto the footpath shortly after. I seen the guy bleeding and he looked like he had been badly shot.”
Luas services were suspended and the scene sealed off. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Store Street Garda station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111.