The heartbroken family of murder victim Aidan O’Driscoll will gather for his rosary tonight as gardaí prepare for a major security operation for his funeral, writes Alan Healy.
The funeral comes as gardaí have established that a fourth car was used in Wednesday’s brutal hit on the former dissident republican on Old Commons Road in Blackpool.
The 37-year-old’s body was released back to his family yesterday and his rosary takes place at 8pm tonight at O’Connor Bros Funeral Home, North Gate Bridge, from where his remains will be removed tomorrow at 4pm to St Oliver’s Church in Dublin Hill.
Large crowds are expected at his funeral Mass at 1pm on Thursday afternoon, as the former Real IRA leader was hugely popular in sporting circles, particularly with Delanys Hurling and Football Club.
Investigating officers are appealing to anyone who saw a black Toyota Avensis between 2pm and 5pm in the Blackpool area last Wednesday, or between 2pm and 6pm in Killeens on the same day to contact them. The gunmen abandoned and set fire to a white Vauxhall Astra van, registered 99 G 12357, in Killeens after the killing, before fleeing in a waiting red Opel Astra. Gardaí do not have a registration number for the Avensis or the red Astra but they believe both are connected to the killing.
They are also appealing to taxi drivers, motorists or cyclists who have dashcams and who were in either the Blackpool or Killeens from 2pm on Wednesday to come forward. And they stress that any witness to the shooting who has not yet come forward has nothing to fear. Superintendent Mick Comyns said any witnesses would be treated confidentially.
Gardaí have now established that the getaway car, a silver Nissan Almera with the registration number 01 TS 1312, was in the general Blackpool area for a number of hours prior to the murder.
They are also renewing their appeal for anyone who saw the Vauxhall Astra van and the red Opel Astra car, either in Blackpool or Killeens, to come forward.
The father-of-two was gunned down after being dropped off by work colleagues on Old Commons Road just before 5pm on Wednesday. He died less than two hours later at Cork University Hospital. Gardaí are looking to his life in Cork but also to his time living in Dublin and Limerick in recent years to establish the motive for his killing.
They are appealing to them to contact them in Anglesea Street on (021) 4522000.
This article first appeared in the Evening Echo.
