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Murder victim had been warned by gardaí life was in danger

Gardaí believe Eoin Boylan is the fifth victim of an ongoing feud between drugs gangs in the Coolock area
Gardaí believe Eoin Boylan is the fifth victim of an ongoing feud between drugs gangs in the Coolock area

The victim of the latest gang-related murder in Dublin had been formally warned by the gardaí that his life was in danger.

Eoin Boylan was shot dead in the garden of his home on Clonsaugh Avenue, Coolock, at 5.15pm yesterday evening.

Several shots were fired and the 22-year-old was hit six times in the arm, chest and upper body.

Detectives suspect at least one gunman and a getaway driver were involved and are trying to identify the car they escaped in.

Forensic specialists were today examining the scene of the shooting.

Boylan had survived previous attempts on his life.

He worked for An Post but was known as a local drugs dealer and had been before the courts for a number of offences, including possession of drugs.

Detectives believe his murder is part of the ongoing drugs feud in the Coolock area which has also led to the deaths of Zach Parker, Sean Little, Jordan Davis and Hamid Samambar.

Gardaí are investigating if the killing is linked to comments Boylan may have made on social media relation to Little's murder.

There had been previous attempts on his life and gardaí believe shots fired recently at another house on Clonsaugh Avenue were meant for Boylan's home.

Gardaí had formally warned him his life was in danger but because the threat to his life escalated in the last six weeks he was advised to leave the area for a while.

However, he left for one night, returned and ignored other garda security advice.

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Boylan's killing brings to ten the number of gang-related murders so far this year, but half of those are linked to the Coolock feud which makes it the most dangerous of 2019.

Four of those who were killed in the feud were aged in their 20s.

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan, meanwhile, has said he is "deeply concerned" and has condemned what he called "this wanton violence."

Independent councillor for Artane/Whitehall John Lyons said local residents are hugely concerned following the fatal shooting.

He said the day to day reality is that there is open drug dealing going on in some parts of Coolock and the feud seems to be escalating.

He called for the Government to increase resources to tackle the problem.

"The feud seems to be escalating. I think the fear for a lot of people in the area is that they're not safe. People who have no connection whatsoever, in any way shape or form, to the drugs trade and a lot of families, couples and individuals right across the Northside of the city do not feel safe today.

"We need a serious commitment from the government that they will multiply the number of resources in the area," he said.