Daylight shooting victim ran for cover in Dublin Lidl store as TV camera crew captured attack aftermath, court told

A SHOOTING victim ran for cover in a Lidl store in Dublin after a gunman carried out a daylight attack, a court heard.

And the aftermath of the incident was captured by Virgin Media TV crew filming the 'Inside the K' TV series on Gardai.

A Garda inspector told the Central Criminal today that the shooter had “racked and re-racked” his firearm as he pursued the victim into the supermarket but it had jammed.

The CCTV footage had captured the gunman attempting to fire into the supermarket as frightened shoppers, including children, ran for cover.

Derek Byrne, 40, with an address at Drynam Hall in Swords, Dublin, was initially charged with attempting to murder Noel Boylan at Mulhudddart, Dublin 15 on June 1, 2019.

He later admitted purchasing the car used by the gunman on behalf of an organised crime gang.

Just three months earlier, an organised gang had tried to murder the victim’s son, Lee Boylan, on the same road.

Lee Boylan was shot three times at close range, with his life saved due to a “fortuitous fluke” when his gunshot wounds formed an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein that stopped him from bleeding out.

In 2021, getaway driver Alan Graham, 51, last of Cahirdavin, Limerick, was jailed for 10 years for his role in that shooting.

During a pre-trial hearing on October 23 this year, Derek Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the attempted murder of Noel Boylan, between May 27 and June 1 2019.

At today's sentence hearing before the Central Criminal , Inspector Shane McCarthy detailed the background of the event, telling Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, that Byrne had pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during the pre-trial hearing in October.

Insp McCarthy said Mr Boylan left his home at Whitestown Drive in Blanchardstown after 5.15pm on June 1 2019.

The victim was walking in the area near a Lidl supermarket when he was approached from behind by a man in a hood.

The man produced a handgun and discharged a shot into the victim’s back.

PURSUED BY SHOOTER

Mr Boylan ran into Lidl after he was pursued by the gunman.

Mr Gillane said another man had driven a Toyota Avensis to the area from which the shooter had emerged.

The Inspector said the shooter had “racked and re-racked” the firearm but it jammed.

As Mr Boylan made his way into the supermarket, he was pursued by the shooter, the court heard.

CCTV footage captured the shooter attempting to fire into the supermarket after Mr Boylan, where he remained.

FULL RECOVERY

He was later treated at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown and made a full recovery. Mr Boylan refused to engage with gardai or make a statement.

The investigation established that the Avensis used to transport the shooter had been purchased for €900 in cash on May 24, five days before the incident.

The court heard that Byrne has 78 previous convictions, which the court heard were mostly for road traffic-related matters.

Other offences included dangerous driving, criminal damage and possession of drugs for sale or supply.

Insp McCarthy agreed with Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, defending that his client had a substantial cocaine addiction for many years and had been living a chaotic lifestyle, which stemmed from his drug addiction.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until the following Monday when he will be sentenced.