Children playing nearby impacted by attempted Longford murder, detective tells Crimecall appeal

Children playing in a Longford estate near the scene of an attempted murder have been impacted by the horror of the crime which has put "ripples of shock and fear in the local community", a detective has said.

Gardaí from Longford last night appealed for help from the public in identifying the people involved in the shooting of PJ Finnan (74), who was left seriously injured.

Detective Sergeant Keelan Brennan told Crimecall that July 17th the Springlawn estate is in the heart of Longford town and it is a very “close knit community.

"It is occupied mostly be retired persons and young families," he said. "The 17th of July was a bright summer's evening where a lot of children were out playing on the green."

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Det Brennan stated a dark coloured BMW car, with UK registration plates, entered the estate on the Ballinalee Road that evening.

CCTV footage captured the car arriving near the victim's home and the suspects, whose near the home during the incident.

One man is seen jumping out of the passenger seat and he carries a gun and walks to the front window of the house where he fires two shots at the victim hitting him at close range.

At this time, a second accomplice is standing near the car and recording the shooting on a mobile phone.Mr Finnan, a well-respected married father and grandfather in the area, was rushed to hospital but thankfully he improved and he was discharged from hospital several days later.

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Det Brennan said the two men quickly got into the car and the vehicle sped off and travelled out of the estate onto Ardnacassa Avenue towards the Ballinalee Road.

The vehicle then turned right and drove out towards Ballinalee Roundabout before subsequently travelling eastbound on the N4 towards Glennon's Roundabout.

The car continued to travel out the N4 until the driver took the first right down a laneway towards a farmyard.

Det Brennan said within minutes Gardaí received a call that the car was on fire and it was extensively damaged.

Officers later established that this was the car used by the suspects.

An attempted murder investigation was launched but to date, no one has been arrested in connection with the case.

"This shooting of a 74 year-old man in his home has put ripples of shock and fear in the local community," Det Brennan said.

"It's not only the victim this impacts upon but the wider Longford community and especially the residents of Springlawn estate and those children that were playing in the estate on the night in question."

Det Brennan said they are appealing to anyone who may be able to help Gardaí with their investigation.

"Do you know the identity of the suspects? Did you see the dark blue BMW on the evening of the 17th of July or prior to the shooting," he said. "We are appealing to anyone who may have information to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Longford Garda Station on (043) 3350570 or Crimecall on 1800 40 50 60.