GARDAÍ CONTINUE TO investigate the murder of Melanie McCarthy-McNamara as its reported that the weapon used in her shooting has been recovered.

The 16-year-old was shot dead while sitting in the back of car in a residential area of the south Dublin suburb of Tallaght on Tuesday night.

RTÉ reports that detectives have recovered what they believe is the murder weapon – a shotgun – along with a balaclava and gloves which were found near where the gunmen abandoned their getaway vehicle at Citywest.

Gardaí believe that McCarthy may not have have been the intended victim of her shooter.

She had been sitting in the back of a parked Nissan Almera along with a number of other people on Brookview Way at around 10.35pm on Tuesday night when another vehicle – a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV – passed by and shots were fired. McCarthy was hit at least once in the head.

She was rushed to Tallaght Hospital but later died from her injuries. Today’s papers report that McCarthy was to turn 17 in two weeks’ time.

The incident has shocked the local community and been widely condemned by politicians and community leaders. Yesterday Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the killing was especially shocking.

“All violent deaths are shocking but the killing of a young person especially so,” he said in a statement.

Gardaí were reported last night to be patrolling areas around Tallaght with officers from the Organised Crime and Emergency Response Units involved.

Chief Superintendent John Manley told a press conference yesterday that a “strong team” of Gardaí are working on the case.

They have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000 or the Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

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