A teenage girl killed in a drive-by shooting in Dublin may have been mistakenly targeted in a feud between families, detectives say.
The 16-year-old, named locally as Melanie McCarthy, but also known by the surname McNamara, was shot in Tallaght, Dublin, on Tuesday night.
She was sitting in a car with three others when her killer opened fire from a black four-wheel drive that pulled up alongside.
One line of inquiry is that the shooting was linked to a falling out between traveller families.
"It is believed she may not have been the intended target," said a garda source on Wednesday.
At least one shot was fired from the 4WD into the car, shattering the side window and hitting the teenager in the head.
She was two weeks from her 17th birthday.
The driver of the car rushed her to hospital where, despite intensive efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead about 1am local time on Wednesday.
The 4WD, which fled the estate at speed, was later found abandoned.
It was not burned out and detectives are to carry out forensic tests on the vehicle.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter said the killing was an appalling and totally barbaric tragedy.
"This is an absolutely horrific incident. These type of incidents will not be tolerated," he said.
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