Ireland

Gardaí examine two guns found near scene of Mark Desmond murder

Garda at the scene of the shooting in Griffeen Valley Park, Dublin
Garda at the scene of the shooting in Griffeen Valley Park, Dublin Garda at the scene of the shooting in Griffeen Valley Park, Dublin

DETECTIVES are examining two guns discovered close to where convicted criminal Mark Desmond was shot dead in Dublin.

The 41-year-old was shot at least three times at about 8pm on Friday in Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan, in the west of the city.

One of the weapons was found in a burned out 05-registered blue Mazda car while the other was discovered in woodland nearby.

Desmond was well-known to gardaí as an extremely violent, dangerous and unstable individual.

Originally from Ballyfermot area of Dublin, he had convictions for violent crime and firearms offences.

On one occasion in 1998 he covered himself with his own excrement in custody to halt Garda interviews.

He was also questioned about the rape of a 15-year-old boy and he was a suspect for several murders, including those of Darren Carey and Patrick Murray whose bodies were found in the Grand Canal at Karneystown in Co Kildare in 2000.

Desmond, who had several children, was continually in conflict not just with rival criminals but also dissident republicans, particularly the Real IRA.

There were previous attempts on his life and the list of suspects for his murder is long, gardaí said.

However, while they have yet to establish a motive and the circumstances surrounding his murder, detectives insisted it would be fully investigated.

Gardaí said the area where Desmond was killed is popular with joggers and dog walkers and urged any potential witnesses to come forward.

They also asked anyone with CCTV footage, such as taxi drivers with dash cams, who may have been in the area to contact them.

Gardaí appealed for anyone with information to contact them at Lucan Garda Station or the Garda Confidential telephone line on 1800 666 111.

It is unclear whether the killing is linked to the bloody gangland feud in Dublin between the notorious Hutch and Kinahan families that has already claimed 10 lives.

The feud began in September last year when 34-year-old Gary Hutch was killed in Spain.

It escalated in February when a gun attack was carried out on Dublin's Regency Hotel during a boxing weigh-in.

Men dressed as gardaí and armed with AK47s shot dead 32-year-old David Byrne in front of horrified boxing fans.

It has been reported that Desmond had some associations with both groups over the years.