It was “by the grace of God” that no one was injured after an 11-year-old child picked up a discarded firearm and discharged it in Dublin on Tuesday, the Tánaiste has said.
Simon Harris was speaking in the Dáil in response to comments from Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon during Leaders’ Questions on Thursday, where he described the incident as a potential “watershed moment”, reports Breaking News.
Harris outlined how a man armed with a handgun was observed near Ballymun Garda Station, while another man was being detained nearby.
Both individuals are suspected of involvement in an “ongoing feud”, he said.
The Dáil heard that as gardaí moved towards the armed man, he fled and threw the weapon into nearby bushes during the pursuit, reports Breaking News.
Around 3pm, two children aged six and 11 came across the loaded firearm, with the older child discharging it into the ground.
Shortly afterwards, two men arrived on an electric bike and retrieved the weapon, which has not yet been recovered despite extensive searches involving armed garda units, reports Breaking News.
Two suspects were later arrested, a man in his 20s and a teenager, although the teenager has since been released pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Gannon told the Dáil: “It is by the grace of God that this child, or no other child in the vicinity, was killed.”
He described the event as “a truly terrifying incident” and warned it should mark a “watershed moment”, reports Breaking News.
“Teenagers are being used to distribute drugs the length and the breadth of this country,” he said.
He also cited research suggesting criminal networks in Ireland are “deliberately and systematically recruit children below the age of criminal responsibility”.
Gannon added that up to 1,000 children nationwide may at any given time be under the coercive control of criminal adults, reports Breaking News.
Responding, Harris echoed the concern, saying: “As you say, it was by the grace of God that nobody was injured as well.”
He confirmed that Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan is being briefed by gardaí on the incident and urged anyone with information to come forward, reports Breaking News.
Harris also referenced the establishment of a Ballymun Implementation Board in 2024 aimed at addressing long-standing community issues.
He said €200,000 was allocated to support its work, bringing together social services, gardaí, and community and business leaders.
He added that the Government has strengthened laws relating to the coercion of children into serious crime, which he described as “particularly disgusting and heinous”, reports Breaking News.
Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe called for additional Garda resources in Dublin North-West, citing recent gang-related incidents in the area.
Harris said he acknowledged concerns around policing numbers and would raise the matter with the Justice Minister and Garda Commissioner, reports Breaking News.
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