The archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin has expressed his solidarity with the community of the East Wall district of Dublin, and extended his sympathy to the family of Aidan O’Kane, who was shot to death by a youth on Sunday night. While awaiting the full results of the Garda investigation, the Archbishop noted that “the possibility that very young people would be in possession of and use a firearm is an ominous development in the serious problem of violence in Dublin city”.
“It would leave an entire community with a new sense of insecurity,” he added. “I unreservedly condemn those who would have in any way contributed to allowing weapons to pass into the hands of young people or of dragging young people into violent action in any way.”
The archbishop prayed that Dublin would be “spared the tragic effect on all of society that the presence of firearms among young people has had in other parts of the world.”
Aidan O’Kane, a fifty year old self employed mechanic, had moved into the East Wall area of Dublin just ten months ago. A widower, he had a positive effect in the community, by informally teaching local teens about the mechanics of cars and motorbikes as he worked in his small garage.
However, according to reports, some residents in the area complained to Gardaí that children were drinking in the house. Mr O'Kane made it clear to the children in question that they were no longer welcome.
This set off a series of anti-social attacks by local children on Mr O’Kane’s property. His wheelie bins were set on fire and missiles were repeatedly thrown at his house. Although he erected a CCTV system at the front of his property, he did not report any of the incidents to Gardaí until last week-end when an attempt was made to set his car on fire on Saturday night.
On Sunday evening, a gang of teenagers and younger children threw eggs at the house. Mr O’Kane pursued a number of the children up a laneway, at the end of which he was shot in stomach by a youth armed with a handgun. He died in hospital just after 7.30pm.
Five youths, aged from thirteen to eighteen have been arrested by the Gardaí and held for questioning, and a nineteen year old woman is being held in Mountjoy. Gardaí are appealing for parents of teenagers in the area who may know something to come forward.
Archbishop Martin said the community liaison work of the Gardaí enjoys solid support in the area, and he hoped this would continue and be “sustained by all, for the good of a community which has been characterised over the years by hard work and good neighbourliness.”+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: CIN)