firearms probe Gardaí rush to scene after woman shot in Finglas, North Dublin

The incident occurred shortly after 9pm.

Garda sign Stock image

Neil Fetherstonhaugh

March 19 2022 09:30 PM

Gardai are at the scene of a shooting in Finglas, North Dublin where a woman has gunshot suffered injuries.

The woman is currently in hospital where she is said to be in critical condition.

A garda spokesman said emergency services were called to the scene to investigate reports of a firearms discharge.

"Gardaí and emergency services are currently at the scene of a shooting incident which occurred in the Finglas area of Dublin shortly before 9pm this evening, Saturday, 19th March, 2022."

Gun crime against women in Ireland is rare with one of the most notable exceptions being innocent victim Sinead Connolly in Bluebell in March 2021.

Ms Connolly (30) was critically injured in the shooting at her home which occurred when she had been sitting on her sofa and was shot in front of her seven-year-old daughter, Leah.

She was hit three times and has been left paralysed from the chest down.

On Thursday, April 18, 2019, journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead while observing rioting in Creggan’s Fanad Drive.

In 2021, figures revealed how Garda detection rates for most crimes — including homicides, assaults, robberies and burglaries — had improved in the last year.

The increases were greatest in relation to homicides, kidnappings, and certain assault categories — including murder threats and attempted murder. Figures published by the Central Statistics Office show a slight decrease in detection rates for sexual offences and drug offences, however.

Low detection rates continue to be a feature of certain crimes, such as sexual offences, burglaries, frauds, and property damage.

The CSO Recorded Crime Detection report shows that Dublin has more crimes per head of population, and lower detection rates.

It shows that males account for the vast bulk of crimes, except for theft, where females account for 35% of reported offences.

The statistics show that detection rates increase as time passes with more investigations being completed, particularly for homicides and sexual offences.