Gardai probe drugs link after shots fired at three English men in rural Wicklow
Two of the men were injured in the incident and all three report that they were attacked and robbed. Gardai are exploring whether the shooters may have had links to a drugs deal
Gardai are probing any possible drug links to a bizarre incident where three English men were shot at as they sat in a car in rural Co Wicklow.
Two of the men were injured in the incident and all three report that they were attacked and robbed. Gardai are exploring whether the shooters may have had links to a drugs deal.
"The drugs link is the main line of inquiry," a source said last night.
The incident happened near Roundwood in Co Wicklow late on Tuesday evening - and saw one victim blasted in the chest with a shotgun, while the other man received injuries to his hands.
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The trio say they were on holiday in Ireland and ended up in Ballinahinch in Roundwood after they took a wrong turn when driving to Blanchardstown in west Dublin - more than 60km away.
It’s understood the trio had taken a ferry from Liverpool to Belfast, before driving over the border to the Republic earlier in the day.
They say they became lost around Roundwood after 10pm when they were suddenly blocked in by another car on a country road.
The men claim a shotgun was then fired at the car and two of them were injured.
Sources have told us the driver, who was uninjured, escaped with shot pals and drove off towards Dublin.
He first went to Loughlinstown Hospital in south Dublin, but then moved on to Str. Vincent’s Hospital near Donnybrook in south Dublin, where the man who had been shot in the chest was dropped off for treatment.
Gardai in Donnybrook were alerted to him being treated in hospital and were investigating how he got there when they became aware of another Englishman who was being treated for shotgun injuries at Tallaght University Hospital - some 20km away.
Gardai later established that the two men had been in the car together, along with the driver.
One of the men was later detained for a drugs search after he was discharged from hospital, but nothing was found.
However, officers have begun an investigation into the incident and suspect it was drugs related.
Neither of the men was seriously injured and there have been no arrests.
Gardai yesterday appealed for the public’s help.
A spokeswoman said: "Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances of a shooting incident that occurred in Co. Wicklow on the evening of Tuesday 23rd July 2024.
"It's reported that at approximately 10pm at Ballinahinch, Roundwood, two men travelling in a car were blocked in by another vehicle, and a firearm was discharged.
"Investigations into all the circumstances of this incident are ongoing at Bray Garda Station.
"Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.
"Any persons travelling in the Roundwood area between 9:30pm and 10:30pm on Tuesday 23rd July 2024 are asked to come forward.
"Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in this area at these times are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí."
The spokeswoman also appealed to anyone who saw the Mercedes Benz the men were travelling in as it headed towards Dublin to come forward.
She said: "Gardaí are also appealing to any persons who observed the movements of a silver Mercedes Benz that travelled from Roundwood onto Newtownmountkennedy and then northbound on the N11 into the Dublin 4 area between 10pm and 11pm on Tuesday 23rd July 2024.
"Any road users travelling in these areas at these times who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are also asked to come forward.
"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bray Garda Station on 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."
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