Gavin McCarthy killing may not be directly related to a local feud

fatal shooting of Gavin McCarthy may not be directly related to a local feud, gardai now believe. However, they suspect McCarthy may have been killed after he allegedly struck a young woman with links to the rival faction in a local feud.
Ballistics officers have carried out tests on a handgun which they believe was used in the shooting in Sheriff Street in Dublin's north inner city. The weapon was recovered in a search of the area by gardai. Experts are now trying to establish if the gun has been used in other shootings and this may help them determine whether members of the feuding gangs were involved in the incident. But detectives are also aware that McCarthy (21) was involved in drug dealing and are looking at the possibility that he could have upset other dealers by attempting to extend his "territory". Forensic tests have also been carried out on several bicycles recovered from the streets around the murder scene after witnesses reported that the killer made his escape by bicycle and then reappeared at the far end of Sheriff Street where he was tackled by a brother of the victim. The gunman's face was covered by a balaclava, but witnesses claim he was aged between 17 and 19 years.
One officer said last night: "Our investigation remains wide open but we are making progress and it no longer seems to be directly linked to the north inner city feud, even if there could end up being a peripheral connection."