Battle for control may have sparked Cork murder; Gardaí appeal for help to trace getaway route
A battle among a new generation of Real IRA members to control its drugs trade, racketeering, and money-laundering operations may have lead to the killing of dissident republican Aidan O’Driscoll, garda sources believe.
Gardaí were not aware of any threat to the life of Mr O’Driscoll, who was gunned down on the outskirts of Cork City on Wednesday, and have appealed for help tracing the movements of three cars they believe were used by his killers.
Supt Mick Comyns, the officer leading the investigation, said they are keeping an open mind on the motive behind the murder in the Blackpool area of Cork City, .
“We have no idea why this shooting took place. Mr O’Driscoll is a son, a father, and we will be using all our resources to solve this murder,” said Supt Comyns. “We will consider anything that comes from the investigation.”
However, senior sources said there is a long list of suspects given that the victim associated with several dangerous individuals and had made many enemies.
Detectives will be considering the possibility that the shooting may be linked to an internal dispute within the Real IRA, that it could be linked to a local drugs feud or turf war, that O’Driscoll may have been involved in a solo extortion racket, or that he was killed in retaliation for his previous “enforcer” role on behalf of the dissident group.
The appeal came as a post mortem on the body of the 37-year-old father of two, from Ballyvolane in Cork City, confirmed he died after suffering four gunshot wounds from what is believed to have been a handgun.
O’Driscoll was approached from behind by at least two men at around 4.45pm on Wednesday as he walked along the Old Commons Road, close to Blackpool’s Church of the Annunciation.
He was shot in the pelvis before collapsing. The killers then fired three shots from close range into his chest as he lay on the ground.
It is believed they fled to a silver grey Nissan Almera which was waiting nearby
O’Driscoll, who was conscious, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital but despite undergoing emergency surgery, he was pronounced dead.
Gardaí spent yesterday examining three crime scenes and four vehicles they believe are linked to the murder.
They recovered the Almera at the junction of Redemption Road and Seminary Road. They recovered a white Vauxhaul Astra estate van which was found partially burned out about five miles away, in Killeens.
They are examining a motorbike which was found burning on the main Cork to Mallow Road later to establish if it is connected to the shooting. And they have also appealed to the owner or driver of a red Opel Astra car which was seen in the Killeens area later to come forward.
Supt Comyns appealed for anyone who saw anything near any of the three crime scenes to contact gardaí at Anglesea St.
Supt Comyns said the gunmen may have had another vehicle waiting for them, a white Vauxhaul Astra estate van, at Redemption Rd. It was later found abandoned and partially burned out about 8km away, near the Sunset Ridge in Killeens.
However, gardaí have yet to establish the route the gunman took after they abandoned the Almera — whether they travelled on to the main Cork to Mallow Road, or drove past Na Piarsaigh’s GAA Club, via the Blackstone Bridge to Killeens. Supt Comyns said gardaí are anxious to talk to anyone who saw anything or anyone acting suspiciously, or who was in or around the three crime scenes on Wednesday, particularly:
* Around Blackpool Village and on the Old Commons Road between 3.30pm and 5.30pm;
* At the junction of Redemption Road and Seminary Road around 5pm;
* Around the Lower Monard area of Killeens some time later.
Supt Comyns said gardaí want to speak to the owner or driver of a red Opel Astra seen in the Lower Monard area to eliminate them from their enquiries.
The murder investigation team at Watercourse Road Garda station has a dedicated team working on the harvesting and examination of CCTV footage. Witnesses are being sought and interviewed, and house-to-house enquiries are underway.
Supt Comyns confirmed O’Driscoll was known to gardaí but that they had no information that his life was in danger: “Mr O’Driscoll is a son, a father, and we will be using all our resources to solve this murder. We will treat any information that any person wants to give us with confidentiality. I would appeal to people to come forward and contact gardaí on 021 452 2000.”
