Post-mortem due after man shot in Ballyphehane

Wednesday, 27 April 2016 09:58

The man was at home with a friend in his house on Plunkett Road in Ballyphehane when he was fatally injured.

Gardaí investigating the fatal shooting of a man in his early 40s in the city yesterday afternoon are awaiting the results of post-mortem and technical examination which it's hoped will clarify the exact circumstances of his death.

The man, who has been named locally as Dermot Byrne, was at home with a friend in his house on Plunkett Road in Ballyphehane when he was fatally injured in the shooting at around 4.30pm.

Mr Byrne was with the friend, also in his early 40s, in an upstairs room of the semi-detached house when he suffered a single gunshot wound to the head.

Despite efforts by emergency services the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man's friend is assisting gardaí with their inquiries but they are yet to take a formal statement from him as he was said to be deeply traumatised last night.

Gardaí are investigating the possibility that the single barrel pump action shotgun, which was licensed to Mr Byrne, was discharged by accident.

A post-mortem is to be carried out today while garda technical experts continue to examine the scene.

Elsewhere garda ballistics experts will examine the shotgun which has been removed.