Garda probe continues amid fears man shot in throat may not walk again

on 09/03/2013 00:00:00

It is thought one of the bullets has splintered Jake Sherman's lower spine.



Detectives said the youth was "not on the radar" of gardaí and had no criminal convictions.



He was shot at close range as he leaned into an open window of a car in the Neilstown area of north Clondalkin at about 7pm.



Garda sources said Mr Sherman was shot in the throat. As he was leaning in at an angle almost horizontal to the ground, the bullet travelled down his neck and hit his lower spine, splintering it.



It is now feared he will not walk again. Gardaí are treating the attack as an attempted murder.



Detectives are said to be making good progress in their investigation and a number of local criminals have been nominated as likely suspects.



Gardaí are trying to glean any evidence from the burnt-out car used by the gunmen. Mobile phone traffic is also being analysed, including from the victim's phone, in the lead up to the attack.



Detectives do not yet know why the youth was targeted, and are looking into whether he had done anything that might have crossed local gangs. They stressed he was not known to gardaí and did not have a criminal conviction.



Meanwhile, detectives investigating the murder of dissident commander Peter Butterly, 35, at a pub car park in Gormanstown, Co Meath last Wednesday, are very hopeful of bringing charges.



Five men were arrested near the scene after anti- terrorist units - which were nearby - intercepted a getaway car. One of the five was released last night, while gardaí were seeking an extension to the custody of the remaining four men.



Gardaí recovered a handgun at the scene and it is now being technically examined.



Officers suspect the murder of the father of three from Dunleer, Co Louth, was ordered by the leader of a new dissident group, calling itself the IRA.



It brings together elements of the Real IRA, the Derry-based Republican Action Against Drugs, as well as independent republican groupings in East Tyrone and Belfast.



Gardaí have also spotted the involvement of ex- Provisional IRA activists and former members of the Real IRA in the alliance.



The leader - based in Armagh and described as a "war monger" - has seized overall control of the organisation and is trying to purge it of unwanted members, including those suspected of keeping money gained from extortion and crime for themselves, rather than the cause.



Gardaí said the new leadership want a return to a "purist, militarist" group - which has also shown dangerous intent and capabilities on both sides of the border.