Ireland Case No. 15616Attempted murder · Co. Longford · 17 Jul 2024
Garda appeal over attempted murder in Longford linked to burned-out BMW
On 17 July 2024 at about 7.45pm, a 74-year-old man, PJ Finnan, was shot at his home in Springlawn estate, Longford Town, after a navy-blue BMW with UK-linked registration plates drove into the estate. Gardaí say two shots were fired through a front window, and Mr Finnan was seriously injured but survived and was discharged from hospital several days later. The car was later found burned out at a farmyard a few kilometres outside Longford. Gardaí appealed for public help, including on RTÉ's Crimecall programme on 21 October 2024. As of the 30 October 2024 report, no one had been arrested or charged.
- Reported21 Oct
3 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A navy-blue BMW 3 Series with UK registration plates, described as NI/GB plates in one report, drove into Springlawn estate.
- Two men got out of the car, and one fired two shots through the front window of a house at the 74-year-old victim inside.
- A third person stood near the car and filmed the shooting on a mobile phone.
- The men got back into the car, which sped out of the estate towards Dublin via the N4.
- Weapon
- One suspect carried a shotgun, which one report describes as a sawn-off shotgun.
- Where
- The shooting took place at Springlawn estate in Longford Town, while local children were playing nearby.
- The car was later found burned out on a farm laneway a few kilometres outside Longford.
- When
- The shooting happened on Wednesday 17 July 2024 at about 7.45pm.
- Investigation
- Gardaí at Longford station opened an attempted murder investigation.
- CCTV captured the car arriving, and Gardaí are seeking information on the men and the car's movements before the shooting.
- Gardaí made an appeal on RTÉ's Crimecall programme on 21 October 2024.
- Charges
- No one has been arrested or charged in connection with the case.
- Other details
- The victim, PJ Finnan, was left seriously injured, survived, and was discharged from hospital several days later.
- Detective Sergeant Keelan Brennan said the shooting has affected the close-knit Springlawn community.
42 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA navy-blue BMW with UK registration plates drove into Springlawn estate on 17 July. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatA 74-year-old man was shot in the attack. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatTwo men got out of the car, and one ran to a front window and fired two shots at the victim inside a house. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe two men and the driver fled in the car towards Dublin via the N4. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatCCTV captured the car arriving near the victim's home. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatA second man stood near the car and recorded the shooting on a mobile phone. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe victim was left seriously injured. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe two men got into the car and it sped off out of the estate. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatGardaí received a call within minutes that the car was on fire, and it was extensively damaged. (longfordleader.ie)
- whatGardaí at Longford station are investigating an attempted murder incident. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA navy blue BMW 3 series car with NI/GB registration plates entered the estate. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe car stopped outside the victim's house while local children were playing. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe male suspect got out of the front passenger seat and approached the driveway of the house. (kildarenow.com)
- whatA rear seat passenger held up a mobile phone as if recording the incident. (kildarenow.com)
- whatBoth suspects returned to the car, which then drove away at speed. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe victim, a 74-year-old man, received hospital treatment for his injuries. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe shooting took place at Springlawn estate in Longford Town. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe car was later found abandoned and on fire at a farmyard a few kilometres outside Longford. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe Springlawn estate is in the heart of Longford town. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereA dark coloured BMW with UK registration plates entered the estate on the Ballinalee Road that evening. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe car travelled along the N4 and turned down a laneway towards a farmyard. (longfordleader.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at Springlawn Estate in Longford town. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe incident happened on 17 July 2024. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe shooting happened on a summer evening, 17 July, when children were playing on the green. (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on Wednesday 17 July 2024 at about 7.45pm. (kildarenow.com)
- weaponOne of the men was armed with a shotgun. (longfordleader.ie)
- weaponOne man carried a gun and fired two shots at the victim through the front window of the house. (longfordleader.ie)
- weaponA male suspect was carrying a sawn-off shotgun. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationAn attempted murder investigation was opened. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationNo one has been arrested in connection with the case. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí are asking for information on the identity of the men caught on CCTV and on the car's whereabouts before the shooting. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationAn attempted murder investigation was launched, and no one had been arrested. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed to the public for help identifying the people involved in the shooting. (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe car was seen on CCTV on Ballinalee Road shortly before entering the estate. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationGardaí asked anyone with information to contact Longford Garda Station. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThe victim survived his injuries. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe other accomplice stood near the car and filmed the shooting on a mobile phone. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherDetective Sergeant Keelan Brennan said the Springlawn estate is a close-knit community that the shooting affects. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe victim was taken to hospital, improved, and was discharged several days later. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherChildren playing in a nearby Longford estate were affected by the crime, according to a detective. (longfordleader.ie)
- otherThe suspects set the car on fire in a farm laneway, and it was later destroyed. (kildarenow.com)
- otherThe incident was featured on RTÉ's Crimecall programme. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Oct2024Garda appeal over attempted murder incident linked to burned out BMW car
First report of the incident as a garda appeal, with CCTV route details, the burning of the car, and a call for witnesses. No arrest or charge is reported.
victim, 74, malesuspect, malesuspect - 22 Oct2024Children playing nearby impacted by attempted Longford murder, detective tells Crimecall appeal
Adds details from a Crimecall appeal: the victim's name (PJ Finnan), CCTV showing the car arriving and one man firing two shots through the front window, a second man filming on a phone, the car's UK registration plates, the estate's location and the children playing nearby, the victim's hospital discharge, and the car being set on fire on a farmyard laneway off the N4.
- 21 Oct2024Gardaí issue RTÉ's Crimecall appeal following attempted murder of Longford grandad
Gardaí issued an RTÉ Crimecall appeal on 21 October 2024. New details: the car had UK registration plates, one man was armed with a shotgun, a third man filmed the shooting on a phone, and the car was found on fire at a farmyard. No arrests have been made.
victim, 74, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect