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Gardaí are on high alert amid fears of retaliation attacks following a targeted hit and run which claimed the life of a man in his 30s.
Sources say the victim, named locally as Mircea Rostas, was targeted in a feud-related incident in Balbriggan, north county Dublin, among members of the Roma community which has been simmering for several weeks.
On Monday night, that feud exploded with the loss of Mr Rostas’ life, when he was mowed down by a vehicle in a ‘targeted’ hit-and-run incident on Railway Street at around 9pm.
That vehicle failed to remain at the scene. Shortly afterwards, in a second incident involving three cars, a black BMW 3 series was rammed outside Balbriggan Garda Station on Drogheda Street.
On Monday night, as local people gathered around the man’s body shortly after the horror incident, which happened at around 9pm, one distraught youth, who was with Mr Rostas, sobbed: “He’s not breathing” and “I had beef with them for ages” in relation to the alleged suspects.
The chief suspect, a man in his 40s, has been identified by Gardaí and it is understood he knew his victim well. In a statement on Tuesday evening, Gardaí confirmed that a man in his 40s had been arrested in connection with the incident. The man is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in North Dublin.
The Garda Public Order unit was deployed as tensions mounted in the seaside town shortly after both incidents.
Two crime scenes were declared and remained sealed off in the town until Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Rostas’ body remained at the cordoned-off scene under a blue tent on Railway Street until it was removed by ambulance just before midday on Tuesday.
A post-mortem examination has been completed by the State pathologist, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.
At the second crime scene, outside Balbriggan Garda Station, three cars were removed and technical examinations of the scene took place before the cordon was removed on Tuesday afternoon and the road reopened for traffic.
Sources now say there are fears of retaliation attacks.
“Gardaí are on high alert in the town now over fears of retaliation attacks,” a source told the Irish Mirror.
Local councillor Tony Murphy told the Irish Mirror it was “horrendous” news for the family of Mr Rostas.
“It’s absolutely devastating for Balbriggan,” said Cllr Murphy.
“And equally, I must say, it must be horrendous for the family to wake up to this news on Tuesday morning.
“And I know speculation is out there as to what happened, but I have 100 per cent confidence in the Gardaí, and they will get to the bottom of this, and they will take the appropriate action.
“And I’d like to say to the people, Balbriggan is generally a safe town and not to be too concerned.
“We have a good vigilant Garda force in the town, so there wouldn’t be too much to be to be concerned about, although this is going to rock Balbriggan, that’s for sure.”
Horrified locals who gathered on Drogheda Street on Tuesday morning said they were “absolutely shocked” over what happened.
“It’s absolutely shocking,” one local told the Irish Mirror.
“I only heard about it all this morning when I saw news online. It’s terrible.”
“We heard all the sirens on Monday night but didn’t know what was happening,” another local said.
“It’s scary, it really is. And really sad that his body remained at the scene overnight. God love his poor family. He is someone’s child,” another local said.
Investigating Gardaí are appealing to the public for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. They are particularly interested in the movements of a black saloon car observed in the area at the time, which was later abandoned following a collision on Drogheda Street, Balbriggan, with a second saloon car shortly after the fatal incident.
Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) from the area at the time are asked to make it available to Gardaí.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Balbriggan Garda Station on 01 666 4500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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