More Gardai Needed In West Dublin

[Rat Catcher]

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/i-would-move-in-a-second-if-i-could-neighbour-heard-shouts-of-stop-as-man-fatally-stabbed-37969774.html

'I would move in a second if I could' - neighbour heard shouts of 'stop' as man fatally stabbed

Male known to the victim (22) is arrested after he walked into Garda station
   
Ian Begley
April 1 2019 2:30 AM
 
Neighbours have spoken of their horror after a 22-year-old man was the victim of a fatal stabbing in the Taoiseach's constituency of west Dublin.

Noel Whelan was found with stab wounds at his house at Castlecurragh Heath in Mulhuddart shortly after 6pm on Saturday.

Emergency workers tried to save his life at the scene, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

A neighbour said she heard someone from the house shout "stop, stop" while the violent incident was taking place.

It is believed Mr Whelan was assaulted before being stabbed repeatedly.

A short time later a man in his 40s, who knew Mr Whelan, presented himself to a Garda station. He was arrested and was last night being held at Finglas garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

He is due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court this afternoon charged in relation to the stabbing.

The incident is not believed to be linked to any ongoing feuds in the Mulhuddart/Blanchardstown area. There is no suggestion the victim was involved in criminal activity.

Gardaí continued to make door-to-door enquiries yesterday afternoon and kept the direct vicinity of the house cordoned off to the public.

A substantial amount of blood could be seen on the floor and walls of the hallway as forensic detectives assessed the scene.

Gardai at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Castlecurragh Heath in Mulhuddart. Pic Steve Humphreys
It's understood that Mr Whelan, commonly known as 'Noelie' and who was originally from Coolock, had only lived in the house for about a year.

One neighbour described him as a "proper gent" who was very popular amongst his peers. "I didn't know him that well, but he was always very nice to me whenever I passed him by. I often saw him drive up the road. He seemed like a real character.

"I'm just so shocked by what happened and can't get my head around it.

"I feel so sorry for his family, especially his mum who is spending Mother's Day grieving for her son."

Neighbours also called for a larger Garda presence in the area.

"We're constantly being burdened with criminal activity here," said one resident.

"Drug deals, fights and burglaries take place in Mulhuddart very regularly, but gardaí are doing very little about it.

"Many of us have CCTV cameras outside our homes for our own protection. I'm constantly being woken up by blaring music from parties that go on through the night.

"I only hope that this incident will make gardaí aware of what's really happening around here," he said.

Another local man said he now feared for his young daughter's safety.

"I'm actually frightened to let her play outside. There is so much violence and drugs around here that I'm afraid she will be pricked by a needle," he added.

"I would move out of this place in a second if I could."

Mulhuddart Councillor Tania Doyle said it was important that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was aware the incident happened in his constituency.

"Gardaí are working extremely hard with the very limited resources they have, but they can't do their jobs properly if there's not enough of them.

"The Taoiseach needs to be made aware that his constituency in Dublin 15 is in desperate need for a much larger Garda presence," she said.

Attempts were made to contact Mr Varadkar last night, but he did not reply at the time of going to print.

Friends of Mr Whelan paid tribute to him on social media.

"You really don't know what tomorrow holds for any of us," said one friend.

"Always let the ones you love know it and give them an extra squeeze tonight.

"A devastating time for the area losing another genuine, nice bloke.

"RIP Noelie, you'll be sadly missed...So hard to believe."

Another friend wrote: "Absolutely heart-breaking, can't believe it. RIP pal, such a nice person. Thinking of all the family at this horrible time."

[john m]

Looks like his old man did it .RIP .

[john m]

A secondary school in west Dublin went into lockdown after a gunman discharged shots at another man outside the gates.

There is currently an ongoing garda operation in the nearby Corduff estate believed to be related to the shooting this afternoon.

Gardai are investigating the shooting outside Riversdale Community College secondary school in Blanchardstown Road North, Corduff, Blanchardstown at 3.40pm.  It is understood that several shots were fired from a handgun.

Pupils were kept in the school as a precaution and gardai are still on the scene.

It’s understood the man was not injured in the incident.

The incident occurred just as the school day was to finish and the school was put into precautionary lockdown.

The announcement came on the school intercom to inform students and teachers to remain inside their classrooms and for nobody to leave just as the school bell went.

It’s understood that some teachers stood against the doors of their classrooms to prevent anyone from getting in or out as a precaution.

Students and teachers were then summoned to the assembly hall at the school at around 4.15pm where the students were told they would be able to leave once collected by their parents.

Gardai are investigating if the shooting is linked to a bitter feud in the Corduff area which has seen numerous violent incidents in the past number of months.

It is understood that the intended target who is aged in his 20s was shot at a number of times outside Riversdale Community College when he arrived at the school to collect his younger brother.

He was not injured in the attack and it is understood that he ran into the school grounds after being targeted.

A significant number of gardai are currently involved in an operation in the nearby Corduff estate, believed to be linked to this afternoon's shooting.

Around 15 garda vehicles have descended onto the housing estate with armed detectives and uniformed officers involved in the live incident.

OLLEGE SHOOTING 6SH.jpg
Gardai block off roads at Corduff Grove close to the Riversdale Community College in Blanchardstown. Pic Steve Humphreys 2nd April 2019
A property at the focus of the ongoing incident is close to the scene of the shooting outside Riversdale Community College. A helicopter from the garda Air Support Unit was also deployed in the aftermath of the shooting.

A large number of locals watched on as garda cars blocked-off a section of the roadway. One man expressed his shock when told that a shooting had taken place nearby this afternoon.

"I didn't hear a thing about that, it looks like half the gardai in the city are here, it must be serious," he said.

 A garda car also remains inside the gates of Riversdale community college.

Speaking in Paris, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he is “shocked and concerned” to hear about the shooting at a school in his constituency.

He expects to be briefed on the situation by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan later this evening.

Jack Chambers, a Fianna Fáil TD who represents Dublin West, said local gardaí need the support of national units due to the recent escalation in violent activity in the area.

A similar response saw armed gardaí and specialist units deployed to the inner city a number of years ago when gangland tensions there spiked.

“There has been a shocking escalation of violence in west Dublin recently,” he said.

“Now we have had a shooting in broad daylight outside of a school which has serious ramifications for the safety of the broader community,” he said, adding it was also “traumatic” for parents and children to witness such an incident near the school.

People in the area are living in fear and in some areas are afraid to let their children out according to Mr Chambers, who sits on the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

Local gardaí are doing their “level best” to respond and to increase their visibility but there is a need for a “proportionate response” in the form of national resources to be deployed as back up the deputy told Independent.ie.

Former Tanáiste Joan Burton said she has already raised concerns about recent developments in the area.

"I have spoken about children’s parents and staff of local schools being really worried about recent episodes of lawlessness in the area," she said.

"A small number of people are putting the good name of a lovely community at risk."

"We need more community policing urgently. Fine Gael is failing people and communities on policing and justice," she added.

[Tony]

Scum breed scum

[The Liffey Lip]

Joan Burton?...........ah here..........

[john m]

Multicultural area .Elected a Gay Foreigner to the Dail and a Black  African Irish Republican to the council .Big Dommos young ones young one was thinking of running for the council promising to open a rifle range beside the Aqua Center for the locals to practice .I asked her why there was no Boxing Club in Blanch she said they prefer Colt 45s than 16oz gloves .

[The Liffey Lip]

Crime levels in this area are not being reported accurately............it's a war-zone....almost as bad as the bad end of Tallaght.

[john m]

Crime levels in this area are not being reported accurately............it's a war-zone....almost as bad as the bad end of Tallaght.

crime everywhere just get to know the criminals in the area you work .

[The Liffey Lip]

That's impossible.........easier to know those who aren't. If you know criminals then they're not much fucking use at it.

[Rat Catcher]

The vast majority either aren't any good at it or just don't care who knows what they're up to, LL... at least as far as drug dealing goes. Cocaine abuse in the northside suburbs of Dublin is at epidemic proportions. The city and tens of thousands of lives are being destroyed because there is no respect for the law and no enforcement.

[The Liffey Lip]

I had a neighbour once who was good at it....very good. He still is I hear.....owns several houses in the Laois district.