https://www.rte.ie/news/crime/2018/1223/1018806-murder-dublin/Gardaí to increase armed patrols in west Dublin after murderUpdated / Sunday, 23 Dec 2018 13:50
By Paul Reynolds
Crime Correspondent
Gardaí are to increase high-visibility policing and armed patrols in west Dublin following the murder of a 34-year-old man in Blakestown last night.
Forensic specialists today examined the scene of the capital's latest gang-related murder, which took place three days before Christmas and has devastated a family.
Two gunmen waited for at least an hour outside Eric Fowler's home in Blakestown Cottages, before running up and shooting him dead at 6.50pm last night.
Gardaí believe this was a targeted gang-related attack. Detectives are still trying to establish a motive for the murder but believe it is connected to organised crime.
Mr Fowler was standing beside his car when the gunman ran up. He tried to get away but was shot a number of times in the head and collapsed at the side of the house.
A burned out car, a silver Volkswagen Jetta, was found in nearby Rusheeny Green and a second crime scene was sealed off there.
Gardaí appealed today for information on the movements of that car between 5pm and 7pm last night at both the murder scene at Blakestown cottages and Rusheeny Crescent.
Superintendent Liam Carolan also asked that people who were in those areas and may have dash cam footage to contact them at Blanchardstown Garda Station.
Mr Fowler was known to gardaí for his involvement in crime and had a number of previous convictions.
A parent to young children, he was also the CEO of a car valeting company but just last week was disqualified from driving for two years at Blanchardstown court after he was caught drink-driving earlier this year.
He was aware that his life was in danger and had been given a formal garda warning about credible threats that had been made against him.
Detectives say it is too early to identify a motive for the attack but there are a number of lines of inquiry.
They say it could be connected to local criminal feuds in Blanchardstown and Finglas or to the Hutch-Kinahan feud.
