Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has condemned a gun attack at a restaurant in west Dublin on Christmas Eve.
A man in his 20s died and a second man was seriously injured in the gang-related attack, which took place at Browne's Steakhouse on Main Street in Blanchardstown just after 8pm as customers, including families with children, were eating.
A father and son who were in the restaurant and who are known to gardaí are believed to have been the targets of the gunman who fired several shots.
As the attack unfolded, customers screamed and ran and frightened parents rushed out carrying young children from the restaurant.
A man in his 40s was shot and seriously injured.
He was driven to Connolly Hospital by a relative and remains in a critical condition.
The gunman was tackled at the scene and injured.
He was treated by paramedics and also taken to Connolly Hospital but pronounced dead there a short time later.
He appears to have sustained fatal stab wounds.
A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out tomorrow by the State Pathologist at the City Morgue.
The scene in Blanchardstown was sealed off for a forensic examination and CCTV is being gathered. Gardaí say that no arrests have been made.
Both victims are known to gardaí for their involvement in serious and organised crime.
Detectives are treating the shooting as gang related and believe it is linked to an ongoing drugs and gun related feud.
An investigation is under way and gardaí say videos of the incident and its immediate aftermath are in circulation on social media and messaging apps and have appealed to people not to further distribute this material.
They also appealed to the public to be "aware of a significant level of speculation, misinformation and disinformation which is in circulation".
An incident room has been established at Blanchardstown Garda Station and a Garda Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to liaise with the families of both victims.
Gardaí say that uniform patrols in the area have been stepped up, with support from armed patrols, including the Garda Armed Support Unit.
Minister McEntee condemned the shooting, saying that "this viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas. That anyone could perpetrate such violence as families gathered together is especially disgusting."
She said she is "thinking of the bereaved" and those who were at the scene, including the emergency service personnel "who have to deal with this senseless violence".
The minister urged that anyone with information should contact gardaí.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was "shocked" to have heard about the gun attack.
In a post on X, he wrote that the restaurant is one his has visited many times.
Shocked to hear about the shooting today in Blanchardstown in a well known family restaurant I've visited many times.
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) December 25, 2023
Full Garda investigation underway. My thanks to them and solidarity to staff and customers.
Gardaí have appealed to anyone with information, or who may have video footage of the incident, to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
