Garda appeal over attempted murder incident linked to burned out BMW car

Featured on RTE's Crimecall programme

The Gardaí at Longford station are investigating an Attempted Murder incident, on Wednesday July 17 2024 at Springlawn Estate, Longford town.

At approximately 7.45pm, a Navy Blue BMW 3 series car, with NI/GB registration plates, entered the Springlawn Estate. The car drove around a green area, before, stopping outside the victim’s house, while local children were playing.

As the BMW car stopped a male suspect carrying a sawn-off shotgun got out of the front passenger seat and approached the driveway of the house.  Almost simultaneously a rear seat passenger who had stepped out of the car, began to hold up a mobile phone as if recording the incident. After the incident both suspects then returned to the car and it drove away at speed.

Suspect Car Route:

• The car is seen on CCTV on Ballinalee Road shortly before entering the Spring Lawn estate. A few minutes later after the incident it again travelled along the Ballinalee Road as it left the Springlawn area.
• It then turned left onto the Dublin Road, continuing through the roundabout onto the N4 in the Dublin direction.
• After approx. 1.5 kmh it is known to have turned right at Fallon’s Hardware, stopping in the laneway of a nearby farm. Here, the suspects set the car on fire, which was later recovered by Gardaí, totally destroyed.

Garda Appeal:

• The victim, a 74-year-old man received hospital treatment for his injuries and is continuing his recovery. Gardaí want to emphasise to the community of Longford that every resource has been deployed to investigate this incident and prevent any reoccurrence of a similar crime taking place. While acknowledging that there has been fear within the community they want to reassure them of their determination to bring those involved before the courts.
• Gardaí would like to acknowledge the public’s support and assistance received to date during this investigation, and encourage them to come forward, no matter how insignificant you feel your information maybe?
• Were you in the vicinity of the Springlawn estate, or the Ballinalee Road area of Longford at approx. 7.45 pm on the evening of the 17th July 24, Did you see the B.M.W car drive at speed?
• Do you know the identity of the suspects seen in the CCTV?
• Do you have any knowledge in relation to the Navy Blue B.M.W 3 series, registration No YS56LCN? Do you know who purchased it or had possession of it? Where was it between November 2022 and the day of the shooting on 17th July 2024?
• This incident would have been a talking point, during which the suspects may have been named?
• Did you see these suspects or car in the Longford town area before the shooting? Do you know who they are?
• Were you parked at Fallons hardware on the Main Longford/Dublin Road between 7.40 and 8.15pm on the evening of the 17th July 24? Did you see a dark coloured B.M.W 3 series car which drove into nearby farmland, where it was set alight and destroyed by fire? Was there any other vehicle(s) here? The suspects may have transferred to another vehicle?

Anybody with information is asked to contact Longford Garda Station – Tel; (043) 3350570.