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Killers used two getaway cars
10.02.12
GARDAÍ are liaising
with the PSNI in Derry as part of their
investigation into the murder of a 24 year old man
in Co Donegal.
Andrew Allen was shot dead in a downstairs bedroom
of a house at 26 Links View Park, Lisfannon,
Buncrana at about 9.22pm on Thursday.
He had been living at the property, in a quiet
residential cul-de-sac, for the last six months with
his partner. She was in the house at the time and
has been "traumatised" by the killing, say gardaí.
At a press briefing in Buncrana Garda Station
yesterday afternoon, senior officers said they were
still trying to establish a motive for the killing
and were “keeping an open mind". They declined to
comment on reports that the shooting may have been
linked to a vigilante dissident group in the North.
They said the victim, a father of two, originally
from Top of the Hill, in the Waterside, Derry, was
not known to gardaí in Buncrana.
"Gardai in Buncrana were not aware of this person or
any threats to his life," said Supt John Gilligan.
"We are looking at all aspects of his background and
anything to do with his life before he came to this
jurisdiction.
"The fact that the victim was only living in the
area for the last six months and that the car used
in the getaway by the suspects is registered in
Northern Ireland, means we have a focus certainly on
Northern Ireland but we have to keep an open mind on
it," said Supt Gilligan.
"We haven't arrived at any particular motive. We are
narrowing it down to a number of issues but I don't
want to go into any detail on that," he added. |
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The scene at Links View Park,
Lisfannon, Buncrana, where Andrew Allen (24) was
murdered on Thursday night. |
Supt Kevin English, who
is leading the investigation, has been liaising with
the PSNI in relation to the incident.
Supt English extended his sympathies to Mr Allen's
family, partner and friends yesterday. He said the
shooting had been a "traumatic event" for them and
the wider community of Buncrana.
Andrew Allen was shot dead after a car carrying two
or possibly three men reversed into the driveway of
his home. The men first tried to gain entry to the
house but the front door was robust and they instead
went to the window of a downstairs bedroom, located
to the left of the front door, say gardaí. They
believe a number of shots were fired through the
bedroom window. Mr Allen suffered fatal gunshot
wounds to the body. Attempts by ambulance personnel
to revive him were unsuccessful and he was
pronounced dead at the scene by a local doctor at
10.30pm.
The suspects escaped in a silver Vauxhall Cavalier
hatchback, registration number SJI 2117, and drove
in the direction of Fahan village. There, it is
believed they travelled about one kilometre off the
main road to Church Brae, in the townland of
Ballyhone, where they switched cars and burned out
the Cavalier.
Gardai yesterday appealed for witnesses who may have
been driving or walking around the Links View Park
area before or after the shooting. They are also
seeking information from anyone who noticed
suspicious activity involving unfamiliar cars in the
Church Brae area. Witnesses are asked to contact
Buncrana Garda Station on 074-9320540, the Garda
Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any
Garda Station. |
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