Gardaí investigating an ongoing feud between two drug gangs in Ballymun are searching for a gun that was fired by a child in the area yesterday afternoon.
The series of events which led to the shooting began around 3pm yesterday when a man armed with a handgun was seen near Ballymun Garda Station, where a second man was being detained.
Both are suspected of being involved in the feud.
Gardaí approached the man with the firearm, but he ran away and was pursued.
He threw the gun into bushes as he made his escape, but it was subsequently picked up and fired by a child, believed to be around 11 years old.
No one was injured in the shooting.
A short time later two men arrived on an electric bike and took the gun away.
The weapon has still not been recovered in spite of intensive searches by gardaí and armed units.
Gardaí subsequently arrested two males, a man in his 20's and a teenager, in connection with the incident.
They were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
The man in his 20s is still being questioned in connection with the incident.
The teenager has been released without charge pending a file to the DPP.
The feud between two street gangs in Ballymun over control of the drugs trade has been ongoing for more than a year and has led to several serious violent incidents, including the death of one man, which gardaí are treating as murder.
Kevin Kelly, who was in his 20’s, was killed by a car on Balbutcher Lane in the early hours of 28 June last year.
Gardaí believe he was deliberately knocked down as part of the feud.
It is one of a number of feuds in the area which the gardaí in Ballymun are currently investigating, including a feud among members of the travelling community which has led to more than 20 violent attacks, including serious assaults and arson attacks.
