Blanchardstown: Increased patrols after Dublin shooting incident
Gardaí (Irish police) have stepped up uniformed patrols in Dublin after a shooting incident at a restaurant on Christmas Eve.
A man in his 20s died after he was injured during the incident in Browne's Steakhouse, Blanchardstown, at about 20:00 local time.
A second man, in his 40s, is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds and remains in a serious condition, gardaí (Irish police) said.
The two men were taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital, where the man in his 20s was pronounced dead.
It is understood gardaí are investigating whether the dead man was a participant in the initial attack and was tackled in the aftermath.
A post-mortem examination of the deceased is expected to take place on Tuesday.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ understands detectives are treating the incident as gang-related and believe it is linked to an ongoing drugs and gun-related feud.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said he was "shocked" to hear about the shooting at "a well known family restaurant I've visited many times".
"Full Garda investigation under way. My thanks to them and solidarity to staff and customers," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Justice minister Helen McEntee said that the attack taking place where families had gathered was "disgusting".
"That anyone could perpetrate such violence as families gathered together is especially disgusting," Helen McEntee wrote on social media.
"I deplore the violence in Blanchardstown tonight.
"This viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas," she wrote on Instagram.
"I'm thinking of the bereaved, those who were at the scene and indeed all the emergency service personnel working tonight and over Christmas who have to deal with this senseless violence."
The scene remains preserved for a technical examination.
Gardaí have appealed to the public not to share videos from the scene in the aftermath of the shooting, and to be aware of "a significant level of speculation, misinformation and disinformation" that is being circulated.
