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Updated at 1.30pm
TWO GARDA INVESTIGATIONS are continuing this afternoon after two men were shot dead in separate attacks in Dublin last night.
The incidents in the north inner city and western suburbs of Dublin are not believed to be connected.
Gardaí released further information about the killings at a press conference this morning, issuing public appeals for information about the two attacks.
In the first shooting, Michael Barr, a 34-year-old originally from Tyrone, was shot in the head at the Sunset House pub in Summerhill shortly after 9.30pm last night.
Barr was suspected of being a senior figure in the dissident republican movement.
The state dropped an IRA membership charge against Barr after he pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to handling stolen electrical equipment in 2014.
He was also suspected of being involved in planning the Regency Hotel shooting in February, which killed David Byrne, a member of the Kinahan crime gang.
The second shooting last night took place just over two hours after the killing at Sunset House, when a man was gunned down in Kilcronan Close in Clondalkin at 11.43pm.
The man, aged 37, was pronounced dead at scene. He has not yet been named publicly by the gardaí.
Sunset House
Gardaí released the full registration plate of the car used in the Summerhill shooting at this morning’s press conference.
According to investigators, the silver Audi A6, with a 04 C 17738 reg, was used in the attack. It’s believed to have travelled from the scene along Ballybough Road, left onto Richmond Road and across onto Walsh Road.
It was later recovered on Walsh Road in nearby Drumcondra. Forensic tests are now being carried out on the vehicle.
Three men are believed to have left the scene in the direction of Home Farm Road in another silver coloured saloon car.
Gardaí also issued an updated description of the two gunmen who carried out the pub shooting:
Two men described as skinny and wearing masks entered the public house. A number of shots were discharged from the firearm fatally injuring a man, aged in his mid 30s. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say a number of witnesses have already come forward, and they’re appealing for others who were in the pub to make contact with gardaí.
Clondalkin
In relation to the second shooting, gardaí say that from initial investigations it appears that a man entered the hallway of the house and fired a number of shots at the victim.
Gardaí say they were at the scene of the shooting within two minutes and assistance was given to the injured man. However, the 37-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
It’s believed the gunman ran along Kilcronan Close onto the Grand Canal and exited into a green area towards Lock View Road.
A large area of the canal has now been sectioned off as gardaí carry out an investigation.
Detectives described the gunman:
He is described as wearing all black clothing, black runners and a black tracksuit and may have been wearing a balaclava. He is also described as being short in height.
Gardaí also stressed that intelligence is very important for them and urged anyone with information to come forward, adding that people can trust that they’ll be treated sensitively.
Reaction
The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald briefed the Cabinet on the gangland shootings this morning.
President of the GRA, Dermot O’Brien told Keelin Shanley on RTÉ Radio One that last night’s shootings will intensify the debate about arming all gardaí.
Speaking on Today with Sean O’Rourke, O’Brien said, “Since 2008 there has been no tactical training for non specialists units, for detectives and members on the cold face.
If you take the Regency Hotel for example, the first responders to that were unarmed gardaí and it’s a well known fact – and the FBI have stated – that a 500 metre perimeter should be set up around such incidents where unarmed people cannot enter … but the scene itself should be secured by armed members.
“The further difficulty we have there is we haven’t got enough personnel who are armed for doing it.”
Meanwhile Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said, ”I accept you can’t have an armed guard on every street corner … none of us want to live in a police state. However, there is a very, very immediate issue in respect of resourcing.
The inner city, northside and southside of the Liffey, is down more than 100 gardaí. That has an effect and there’s no point in us pretending otherwise.
Addressing the connections Michael Barr had to the IRA, McDonald said:
“Let’s just be absolutely clear here: the IRA is no longer active, the IRA is no more, the war is over, the IRA weapons have been decommissioned, that is a thing of the past.”
Investigating gardaí can be contacted at the following numbers:
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Thanks for sharing your coming out story Eddie! I hope it helps others struggling with similar situations.
I hope you continue to be happy!
Ignore the trolls which will no doubt appear on this comment thread. They have nothing better to do as usual.
Its great that this man is now happy and content and a lovely story to boot. It is interesting that human beings measure their happiness over their lives with sex… despite obvious good human relationships and interaction the root cause of all the unhappiness was ‘sex’. I suspect his wife knew he was gay long before he came out and as is seen in many marriages today some men are supposedly content at being ‘in the closet’ the spectacle of an obviously gay man in marriage must be difficult and heartbreaking. The need to conform is one but also the need to perhaps to be a ‘Dad’ or a wish to be straight – it take courage to come out – I hope this gentleman has a happy and content retirement.
Headline should read: Man leaves wife after years of marriage to be with somebody else; its still the same as anyone leaving their spouse to be with someone else… nothing spectacular the only difference is that he prefers to have sex with men rather than women. Now his whole family and friends know about trips to Amsterdam etc while married.. great that he’s happy but lots of people hurt on the way I’m sure.
There’s more to sexuality than sex, Rolly.
If you hadn’t the courage or conviction to come out till then , how can you be a hero
It’s about him being brave to come out after so many years especially that he was married to a woman and had children and also the older you get and longer you put off telling people it can make it all that more difficult. He is simply just telling a story that will hopefully help others to come out rather than stay buried deep in the closet not knowing they can talk to people without getting depressed over it.
I think the lesson should be Andrew – come out sooner rather than later before you hurt people. It is his wife who is brave… after all he has what he wants now?
I agree. I think his obligation to the family he created with his wife should have been the priority. He knew he was gay, yet still got married to a woman and led her up the garden path…. Then admits to lying to her when he told her he was bisexual and not gay, just because others were doing does not make it right.
To be gay is fine, I’m sure, but when the label of being gay is removed to the guy in the article, all you are left with is a marriage based on lies and infidelity. Something which, although is quite common, I would not have any sympathy for.
@ Suchma
Well said. The hurt and deep sense of betrayal which Mr Parsons’ wife must have experienced (and possibly still does) must have been unbearable. A woman knows how to compete with another woman, but how can she compete with a man? She must have felt helpless and abandoned (but affected a brave public face as one would expect most women in that unenviable situation would do).
It is too much to ask of any woman to put her in that situation, particularly after a man has married and had children with her.
My comment above was in reply to Suckma Liathroidi.
Total respect for you . But .. As a woman I feel very sorry for your wife and I hope she is as happy as you about her life and how it’s changed
But I do understand .
Having been in several relationships where the other would rather not be in one, or at least be in one with me, I can safely tell you that while his wife may not have felt the best immediately, she will be the better for it.
There is nothing worse than devoting your years to someone who doesn’t or can’t put themselves as wholeheartedly into your relationship as you do.
Exactly, and she did devote years. She was used as a cloak to hide his sexuality and lost years when she may have had a happy, fulfilling relationship with a man who actually wanted to be with her. I feel for this man; it must have been dreadfully hard, but I would have respected him more if he’d remained a “bachelor”.
I’m sure she knew he was gay.
I have to agree with Bronagh. It very sad to think a lot of women and men were in marriages that they didn’t realise were based on their spouses need to hide their sexuality or deny it to themselves. Some may have realised the reality but most didn’t I would think and maybe could never understand why their marriages didn’t seem right somehow. Thankfully, we are moving slowly towards a society where this will only happen rarely if at all as everyone will have the right to marry, what ever their sexuality and I am glad that the author did get to come out and live as he should always have.
How do you make all this up out of the printed story , there is an enormous level of inference going on here. And why is the world always imagined as clear cut and obvious when it comes to stories like these. It wasn’t then and for many it isn’t now.
The quote in the sub-heading says it all “Being gay was not an option” of course it’s not, no more than you choose the colour of your eyes. It is who you are. As a straight man, I truly believe that each and every one of us should be treated as equal.
A gentleman as always Eddie, and an example to us all.
Fascinating article. I came out 25 years ago and have lived openly Gay ever since. I cannot recount one single solitary incident in my life that I would class as Homophobia. I hear a lot of nasty stories about homosexuals treating homosexuals with complete contempt but to be perfectly honest I find heterosexuals are for the most part too busy with their own lives to care about who I or you happen to be sleeping with. I think the Gay community are the most likely homophobic community. If you are thinking of coming out today my advice to you is stay clear of the Gay community and you, like me, will be perfect toy happy.
Eddie is a member of the Gay community.
Should all gay people stay well clear of him?
Maybe you mean that gay people should never meet more than one other gay person at any one time?
Idiot.
It really does baffle me how someone who studied the bible presumably for 4 years can still believe in it.
Even after all the horrible things it says about homosexuals.
I’d have to agree with you,
But then look at all the women who follow the catholic faith, dispite all the awful views the bible holds towards women.
- They should marry the person that rapes them
- They can be murdered for wearing pants
- They should ALWAYS in every case follow instructions given to them by men
Outside of the bible, women hold no positions of power in the Vatican and there’s no catholic women priests or bishops. Women for hundreds of years had to be “churched” after giving birth as they were considered “dirty” and sinful after giving birth to a child.
Hell for a very very very long time women weren’t even allowed up past a certain point on the alter.
Yet many women still follow the catholic faith and the bible, its just silly
This story confirms that being gay is a choice of lifestyle and not something you are born with as some people claim. The fact that the author was married with children proves this. People compare homosexuality with skin colour as though it is predetermined. However, you can’t choose to be black for half your life and then change to being white. (Unless you’re Michael Jackson and we all know how strange he was)
Louise the story confirms nothing of the sort. The author, Eddie, was in denial of his sexuality and felt he had no option other than to hide it and pretend to be straight for 54 years. He didn’t suddenly decide to become gay.
By the way thanks Eddie for sharing your story.
@ Martin & Jamie I’m guessing its about a belief in a greater power, rather than a historical work of fiction compiled by a committee. There are a very few good things in the bible like the “judge not ..” suggestion but for the most part it’s scytsophrenic.
You could’ve shortened all that to “I’m an ignorant moron” and saved us all the trouble of having to read that rubbish.
Not really Louise. Homosexuality was illegal until 1994 and for many marriage was a way of avoiding suspicion of being gay.
Sometimes it’s worth getting into a debate with somebody.
(Unless it’s Louise O’Neill because now we all know what an idiot she is)
Please don’t try to use big words unless you can spell them.
Louise, he was born into a society ruled by religion where it was illegal and an absolute no-no to be gay. A society like that can hold an adverse pressure over any given individual to conform. He only came out when mentally it got too much – signifying an underlying truth that had to come out – if it was a lifestyle choice he would have chosen to live a ‘straight’ life and happy ever after… Did you even read the article?? When did you choose to be straight? Amazing ignorance.
I agree with the wanting to believe in a higher power Mary but cherry picking the good and ignoring the down right deplorable isn’t right!
@louise don’t try to be a behavioural psychologist unless you have a degree.
You don’t have to be catholic to believe the bible.. indeed a lot of people from the reformed churches would say Catholics don’t pay enough attention to the bible.
You don’t have to be simple-minded to believe a bunch of falsehoods, but it helps…
Louise you’re a gowl. Well done Eddie. I wish you well.
The bible actually says very little about homosexuality. It’s mentioned half a dozen times in the whole turgid tome. There’s far more about burnt offerings, smiting people, paying interest, and what sort of clothes to wear, not to mention God’s peculiar obsession with Jews. There’s something deeply dishonest about religious leaders who pin their colours on the idea of how wrong it is to be gay.
Lousie, this man was born in 1945, a very different Ireland than today, he was so brave to come out at 54, and congrats to him
Ditto!!
@Louise. When you figure out why it is you don’t believe in other religions, then you’ll realize why it is I don’t believe in yours.
Louise, how would you know whether or not it is something you are born with? Have you flip flopped with your sexuality?
Louise that is a very ignorant comment to make.
It is explicitly stated once that is an abomination, they should be killed or whatever. Leviticus something I believe!
But people also forget it says don’t wear clothes made of more than one type of fabric.
Both are punishable by death, your call, Christians!
Did you read the story Louise? He was gay all his life but felt he had to conform to what society expected and got married but he became depressed living that lie & ended up in hospital because he didn’t think he could come out. Nowhere does he say he was straight and then changed his mind!!!!
Well done Louise for providing comic relief. You made my evening.
@ Louise my spelling is easily fixed, your intolerance is clearly not.
It’s still not easy for older people to come out. I think younger people have a better time now coming out but older people still carry a lot of baggage from their past and the country’s past. I still wonder at the term ” coming out” though. I would hope one day it will never be needed again. That there would never have to be that conversation. Instead people could just be who they are with total acceptance and no hiding from from the outset. I live in hope
STRAIGHT PRIDE
Troll pride more like! Muppet!
That too…..
Hi Conor
While I believe the above comment is of the trolling manner. Can I ask you a question please?
If a LGBT person posts a comment stating gay pride (which they are entitled to do and obviously are proud to be LGBT) can a straight person not say straight pride without being accused of being a troll?
Good point.
White pride versus Black pride. One is making a statement against being made to feel like a second class citizen, the other is about maintaining a position of dominance. Same goes with “straight pride” statements in articles like this.
Hi John I was gonna answer but Fuh Qu beat me to it!
“Pride” as an issue has to do with minorities expressing themselves in order to advance equality issues. Black pride and gay pride are both aimed at that.
While I myself do not feel “pride” at being gay, its just me, i dont see why I should be proud of my sexuality. Gay pride itself is about being unashamed at being who you are and not hiding your sexuality. I dont know any straight people particularly proud of being straight or who hide the fact that they are straight? Do you?
Thanks for your comment btw, you always try to understand the issues as best you can and ask pertinent questions!
Tell me Deco, what rights did straight men have to fight for? in this country?
In case you didn’t notice, it was illegal in this country to be gay prior to around 1992,
Come out conor,we all know you are straight.
Martin…. I doubt all the men who fought for Ireland’s independence nearly 100 years ago were pigs ears!!
That’s what straight men fought for, for YOU to be Irish & not a Brit!
Thats an awful big assumption Deco, assuming I’m Irish.
You’d want to be awful careful with such assumptions, you makes you look like a fecken idiot
Yes you can have your straight pride parade when straight people get beaten up for being straight and can loose thier jobs for being straight & are not equal citizens.
I’m just proud of me.
I’m great.
Cos what about heterophobia? A lot of gay people seem to suffer from that
The article is about being gay and not being able to say this in a straight world. Saying straight pride is trolling because it’s diverting attention away from the point of the article. Also it’s always assumed that everyone is straight so there is no need for straight pride. Standing up and being being proud of being gay is difficult as you are saying you are different to the norm and we all know how being different makes most people nervous.
Deco – and many Irish men for you not to be a GERMAN! Perhaps they should have fought to prevent you from becoming a clown.
I think Conor the above article is a good example of what a repressed sexuality and mind can do. Suicide, depression etc.
That is all well and good, say Straight Pride all you want, it is only 2 words. The meaning behind the words is what is the issue; and what most people dont understand, mostly straight people, because they are not gay. They have not experienced what the majority of gay people in Ireland have experienced in Ireland at least once in their lifetime, which is homophobia. Stigma, negative attitudes, rejection from family, friends and loved ones, hostile behaviour and violence; ALL because of his or her sexuality. Pride Marches are held to show solidarity, to assert existence and to reinforce to ALL LGBT people that Pride is something they can walk this earth with.
Happy National Coming Out Day One and All.
And to those who wish to deride it , its meaning and message, FU.
Well martin, the (lack of) rights of the single father is a lacking that affects the hetro male in this country. Since you asked..
As opposed to gay fathers, Rob? At least straight men are accounted for in the narrative that “a child needs a mother and father”, while gay men are denied the right to marry their child’s other parent as well as stereotyped to be unable to provide care and nurture that supposedly can only be provided by a mum.
Sorry, but the argument that straight men have it worse in that circumstance is a wash.
Rob, we are all aware of that.
That is the insidious issue in this country, the need to be in competition with one another “oh my issue is if greater importance than yours”, that is such an uneducated approach.
WE ALL DESERVE EQUAL RIGHTS.
One does not deserve it over another, it is not a competition.
I would argue it affects a lot more hetro men than straight men. Dont understand the red thumbs i have said nothing against homosexuals or their lifestyle.
MB I agree with you. The guy asked a question and i answered it truthfully and ran into a barrage of red thumbs from people who are too over sensitive
I said nothing negative about gay people or the article. What can you do?
Well, I’d start by not using words like “their lifestyle”. I think you’ve forgotten that the “lifestyle” of an unmarried father was, not too long ago, looked down upon by the same people who would deny marriage equality to the LGBT community.
Rob, part of the reason why it affects more heterosexual fathers than fathers in same sex relationships is (besides population), married gay couples aren’t actually able to adopt a child. I just find it a bit silly that people are pointing out to you that you are given a lot of advantages and rights that gay families are not and your reaction is “but what about me?”
Leave the straight community alone you straight basher!
Good for you Eddie. It’s sad that for so long you couldn’t feel free to be you.
Good for you Eddie,I’ll be raising a drink to you and anyone who makes the decision to come out today later tonight,life is not a dress rehearsal,just go for it
Go for it, yeah. Bit late for his wife though. She was a bit shortchanged in life, don’t you think?
It is impossible to know that without asking her. It doesn’t mention the details, but not everyone feels like a relationship which didn’t work out was a wasted experience.
Nick he married her knowing he was gay in a time when there was precious little sex before marriage. She was roped in as a beard probably never even knew as a young wife what it was like to be sexually desired, or to have a proper relationship. In those days she would have been a married woman before she would have any inkling of the fact that there was a problem and then way too late to change her
mind and start again. It’s all about him and “go him, well done and brave man”. If he had come outwhen it was harder to do, that would have been brave. It has never been easier to be gay as it is today. Good thing too.
I’d have to agree with you Margaret – all this backslapping and the fallout from his decision effects more than just him. I hope the wife has also found happiness after having her life turned upside down and of course the children.
The children (it doesn’t mention children, but let’s go with that assumption) who she wouldn’t have if she hadn’t married him. Do you think she regrets them?
It’s incredibly unfair to blame someone for bowing to what was societal wisdom at the time (and many people still believe), that being gay was a “choice” and someone could change.
“Happily, I can say that, since coming out, my family – including my two children from my marriage and my extended family in Mayo – have been very supportive”
Did you read the article or just the headline Nick?
I did indeed, or how would I know he was married? It got lost in the bit about family. But again, do you believe his wife regrets her children? It’s a bit insulting for you to speak for her on that one.
Insulting to who ? you? Where did I say she regrets having children?..
No, it’s insulting to claim she regrets her marriage. We have no idea if she does or not – it’s unlikely that she regrets having children.
I live in Mayo and am part of a group which works to provide information and support to, and rise the visibility of, LBGT people in the county. Obviously things have changed but problems remain. Lots of problems remain.
On an optimistic note, it is Social Inclusion Week and the Rainbow Flag is now flying proudly outside the County Council Offices in Castlebar having been raised by the Mayor on Wednesday evening in the presence of our group, our friends, the local family resource centre, a smattering of local councillors and two senior Gardi.
In addition a local bridge is to be lit in the rainbow colours for the duration.
Thought you might like to know that Eddie.
LGBT teachers can still be fired we still have a long way to go.
Great article Eddie and hope it inspires others in the same situation (both male and female) and they take comfort in knowing they are not alone or unique.
The LBGT community are a great bunch of people and provide great backup.
Good luck and enjoy your new found life .
Eddie – That makes you the same age as my godfather. His orientation was an open secret for years, and he’s lived with his partner for the last 30-odd years. Anecdotally, this seems to have been a lot more common than people might think. Official Ireland might have disapproved, even made it illegal, but real people were a lot more sensible. As long as you didn’t actually mention it. Don’t ask, don’t tell.
My godfather and his partner finally got married in England 3 years ago.
If I start chatting to someone I don’t begin the conversation with, “are you gay or straight?”, like a litmus test to see how the rest of the conversation will go. I don’t really have an opinion on pride because it doesn’t affect me but if people want to get out and show the world they’re gay then fine by me.
I am of the opinion that there should be no public debate on issues like gay marriage etc. Everyone is entitled to the same treatment and should automatically be granted those rights. What do we want to be debating it for?
I reckon Louise is a troll btw. That or she’s been let out for the day.
Everyone deserves happiness in a world so cruel…..hope you have alot of happy years ahead……
Good luck to you, Eddie.
Well done, a heart warming story.
It is obviously hard for this man’s wife but would it really have been better to keep this truth under wraps? Was it worth it to have a suicidal husband to “save” a “marriage”? The arrogance of denying this is just staggering. Get real. My greatest respect to Eddie *and* his wife.
Was it hard for her I wonder ?
Well written Eddie . Everybody deserves to give and receive love . Thankfully times have changed hopefully nowadays people in same gender relationships are judged a lot less . All the best to you and your family for the future .
Coming out is one of the hardest things a gay person will ever do – it is also the most empowering thing! I wrote out my story in honor of Coming Out Day as well. The more we share our stories, the easier it becomes for others to tell theirs!
http://tolerantpeople.com/2013/10/11/national-coming-out-day-it-gets-better/
Thanks for sharing your story Eddie :)
Well written Eddie . Congratulations .
Trying to please others or worry too much about what they think will only destroy your mind.
loved reading your story. Thanks. I work with guys to come out……the oldest being 63. Its never too late. As i often say “its better to live one day on this planet being true to yourself than an entire lifetime which is a lie” http://lgbttraining.blogspot.com.au/p/gay-lesbian-or-bisexual-in-straight.html
U go boyfriend
Thanks for your story mick enjoy your day
Eddie parsons was my Art Teacher in the De La Salle college skerries, county Dublin, never once twigged that he was gay. Not that it matters he was always a decent guy and always treated us students well, so who cares whether he’s gay or not. If you read this comment Eddie, I would just like to wish you all the best in your new life.
This guy is a bad example for the younger generation, he marries a fraulein under the false pretences has a couple of kinder by her and then dumps the poor mare. I say what kind of example is that to write about, he is not the hero I think that the people who post the comments think he is, but he is the cad and the bounder who breaks the frauleins hearts.
Sorry eddie
have your say