GARDAÍ IN DUBLIN have launched a fresh appeal for information about the murder of 21-year-old Dean Johnston in 2011.

The young man was shot dead point blank as he sat in the back of a friend’s car on the evening of 25 May 2011 on Moorefield Avenue in Clondalkin. Johnston and his friends were planning to go to a local pub together that evening.

He got into a car that was being driven by his friend’s girlfriend. As she was reversing the car, she noticed someone coming up behind them. A gunman, wearing a dark hoody, leggings and with his face covered, approached and fired a number of shots at the rear of the car where Johnston was sitting.

The 21 year old was fatally injured.

Local issues

The gunman left on foot and though nine people have been arrested in connection with the murder, five years on no one has ever been charged.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin today, Superintendent Dermot Mann from Lucan garda station said this “certainly wasn’t a gangland murder”.

“Prior to the murder of Dean Johnston, we weren’t aware he was in conflict with anyone. But subsequent to it, and as a result of the investigation, we have uncovered that he was in dispute with people locally, over small incidents.”

He described the dispute as “minor” and due to a “personality difference between people and local issues”. Mann said investigating gardaí had looked into reports that the young man had been involved in an incident in a local nightclub, but this has been eliminated as a motive for the murder.

The superintendent described Johnston as “an ordinary, happy go lucky young man” who was studying and who went to the gym to train every day. He had turned 21 just two months before he was gunned down.

It’s a very small area, tight knit community. Obviously we can’t forget the family and the parents in this scenario. Dean’s mother Lorraine, obviously we’ve spoken to her quite recently, and she has asked us to reiterate that she believes Dean won’t rest in peace until the people responsible for his murder are brought to justice.

“It’s a difficult situation for them, the murder of her son happened only 100 yards from her house, so it’s a constant reminder to them,” he added.

Justice

Since the murder five years ago, nine people – both men and women – have been arrested. Three of those were arrested as suspects and the other six were arrested on suspicion of withholding evidence. Some 500 lines of enquiry were generated as part of the investigation, over 400 statements have been taken and 300 exhibits relative to the incident were collected.

Superintendent Mann said he believes gardaí are close to bringing Johnson’s murderer to justice, but they need the help of the local community and anyone else who may know something.

“What we’re appealing for is that in the cold light of day, almost five years on from the incident that people would reflect on it and maybe that people would revisit, some of the people we have already spoken to that maybe they have more to offer,” he commented.

Maybe they have further information that maybe they were in fear of or maybe because it was a local incident, they feel they didn’t want to get involved in it. We’re appealing at this stage for those people to come forward.

He spoke of three people in particular who gardaí believe were present at the time who have yet to be identified or come forward to speak to them.

The first was a man who was walking with a dog very close to the incident and it is believed he would have had to pass the gunman walking away from the scene. The other two people were seen approaching a red car soon after the shooting. Those two people have not yet come forward.

Today gardaí stressed that all information will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence. Anyone who wishes to provide them with information can do so anonymously through Crimestoppers on 1800 25 00 25.

Read: Woman arrested in connection with Dean Johnston murder>

Read: Man arrested in relation to the murder of Dean Johnston>