By Cathal Ryan
Garda铆 are appealing for witnesses as they continue to investigate an attempted murder in Longford almost one year ago that resulted in a pensioner being hospitalised.
At around 7.45pm on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, a Navy Blue BMW 3 series car, with NI/GB registration plates, entered the Springlawn Estate in Longford town.
The car drove around a green area, before stopping outside the victim鈥檚 house, while local children were playing. As the BMW car stopped a male suspect carrying a sawn-off shotgun got out of the front passenger seat and approached the driveway of the house.
Almost simultaneously a rear-seat passenger who had stepped out of the car began to hold up a mobile phone as if recording the incident.
After the incident both suspects then returned to the car and it drove away at speed. The victim, a 74-year-old man, received hospital treatment for his injuries and is continuing his recovery.
Garda铆 said the car is seen on CCTV on Ballinalee Road shortly before entering the Spring Lawn estate. A few minutes after the incident it again travelled along the Ballinalee Road as it left the Springlawn area.
It then turned left onto the Dublin Road, continuing through the roundabout onto the N4 in the Dublin direction.
After around 1.5km it is known to have turned right at Fallon鈥檚 Hardware, stopping in the laneway of a nearby farm. Here, the suspects set the car on fire, which was later recovered by Garda铆, totally destroyed.
Garda铆 are continuing to appeal for witnesses, as they stress that they understand there has been “fear within the community” and want to “reassure” the public they are determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Garda铆 want to emphasise to the community of Longford that every resource has been deployed to investigate this incident and prevent any reoccurrence of a similar crime taking place.
“While acknowledging that there has been fear within the community they want to reassure them of their determination to bring those involved before the courts.”
Garda铆 are now asking the public:
Were you in the vicinity of the Springlawn estate, or the Ballinalee Road area of Longford at approx. 7.45 pm on the evening of the 17 July 2024, Did you see the B.M.W car drive at speed? Do you know the identity of the suspects seen in the CCTV? Do you have any knowledge in relation to the Navy Blue B.M.W 3 series, registration No YS56LCN? Do you know who purchased it or had possession of it? Where was it between November 2022 and the day of the shooting on 17 July 2024? This incident would have been a talking point, during which the suspects may have been named? Did you see these suspects or car in the Longford town area before the shooting? Do you know who they are? Were you parked at Fallons hardware on the Main Longford/Dublin Road between 7.40 and 8.15pm on the evening of the 17 July 2024? Did you see a dark coloured B.M.W 3 series car which drove into nearby farmland, where it was set alight and destroyed by fire? Was there any other vehicle(s) here? The suspects may have transferred to another vehicle?
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