The south Dublin criminal Martin Foley last night was in stable condition in hospital, where he was being treated for gunshot wounds after another attempt on his life.
Two gunmen on a motorcycle approached Foley as he left the swimming pool at Terenure College on Templeogue Road at 9.05 p.m. Foley turned to run back into the building but was shot in the legs and fell. One gunmen fired shots at his head. It appears the gun misfired or he suffered only graze wounds.
He was taken to St James's Hospital, where it is understood he was in a stable condition.
It was the second attempt on Foley's life this year. In mid-April the Provisional IRA attempted to shoot him but the attempt was intercepted by uniformed gardai from Sundrive Station, near Foley's home in the south city. A gun was recovered and two men were arrested but they were released without charge.
Foley survived two assassination attempts by Brian Meehan, later convicted for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, in the mid-90s. In December 1995, Foley was shot by Meehan in a south Dublin bar, suffering minor injuries. In Febuary 1996, he was ambushed while driving near his Crumlin home. Despite being hit five times by machinegun fire, Foley escaped serious harm.
In 1984 the IRA kidnapped Foley and was preparing to kill him when the gang was intercepted by gardai.
Foley had been living in Kildare since the last attempt on his life, at his former home in Cashel Avenue, in Crumlin, four years ago. Foley was hit several times but quickly recovered. It is understood he has moved back into Dublin this year.
Gardai suspected that Foley, who was a close associate of Martin Cahill and has served terms of imprisonment for robbery and other offences, is involved in the drugs trade in south Dublin.
According to Garda sources, Foley has been seen frequently in parts of south Dublin since Easter.
It is suspected he has increased his activities in the city since gardai arrested two members of a major drugs-trafficking gang based in Crumlin. Two members of this drugs family are in prison awaiting trial and it is suspected Foley and his associates have been attempting to move in on their trade.