Minister condemns Christmas Eve shooting

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has condemned a gun attack at a restaurant in west Dublin on Christmas Eve, RTE reports. 

A man in his 20s died and a second man was seriously injured in the gang-related attack, which took place at Browne's Steakhouse on Main Street in Blanchardstown just after 8pm as customers, including families with children, were eating.

RTE said a father and son who were in the restaurant and who are known to gardaí are believed to have been the targets of the gunman who fired several shots.

A man in his 40s was shot and seriously injured.

He was driven to Connolly Hospital by a relative and remains in a critical condition.

The gunman was tackled at the scene and injured.

Minister McEntee condemned the shooting, saying that "this viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas. That anyone could perpetrate such violence as families gathered together is especially disgusting."

She said she is "thinking of the bereaved" and those who were at the scene, including the emergency service personnel "who have to deal with this senseless violence".

The minister urged that anyone with information should contact gardaí.