Monkstown Great-Grandmother Shot In Legs Was Not The Intended Target

A family member of the 77 year-old great-grandmother who was shot in the leg in her home in Monkstown was in fact the real target of the attack.

The elderly woman was shot after answering the door to a man who was banging upon it at around 11pm on Thursday night, The Journal reports.

The intended target was in the house at the time - a man in his 20s who has over 40 criminal convictions for violent offences and is involved in the Dun Laoghire drug trade is thought to have hid while the lady answered the door.

Her six year-old great-grandson was also in the house at the time of the shooting.

The gunman realised she was not the intended target when she opened the door, but fired at least five shots from a handgun, one of which struck the woman in the leg.

She was brought to hospital by ambulance where she is expected to make a full recovery.

While police officers believe the know who ordered the attack, they do not have a definite suspect. The gunman has been described as being between 5ft 7 and 5ft 10 and was wearing dark clothes.

Two arrests have been made so far.

Dun Laoghaire Superintendent Michael Fitzgerald described the attack as a “particularly callous incident”.

“This is highly unusual and a new departure in many respects" he added.

More to follow...