The suspected gunman who opened fire at a Dublin steakhouse before being tackled and fatally stabbed has been named as local Tristan Sherry.

This comes as Ireland’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee has condemned the ‘disgusting’ bloodshed on Christmas Eve following a shooting at a family restaurant which left one man dead and another fighting for his life.

The incident happened in Browne’s Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, west Dublin at around 8pm on Christmas Eve.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was ‘shocked’ by the attack on a restaurant he had ‘visited many times’.

Uniform patrols in the Dublin Region, with support from armed patrols including the Garda Armed Support Unit, have been increased in response to the incident, which has given rise to fears of an escalation in gang violence.

The attacker burst into the restaurant which was packed full of people, including young families celebrating Christmas, who all witnessed the attack.

In one video shared of the aftermath, a young child is seen being removed from the premises by his parents.

Video showed the shocking moment a diner screams ‘someone’s about to get whacked in front of me’ as a gunman storms a Dublin steakhouse and takes fire at a father and son.

Footage shared to social media shows terrified families running for their lives and hiding under tables as shots rang out through Browne’s Steakhouse on Main Street in Blanchardstown on Sunday evening.

One man died and a second man was left seriously injured following the attack. So far, it is believed that the man who died was one of the gunmen.

A father and a son, who were known to gardaí, were reportedly the targets of the gangland shooting at the popular restaurant. 

Gunmen are said to have entered on Christmas Eve, firing at the pair as families and friends enjoying their meal rushed to safety.

The suspected attacker, Tristan Sherry, died after he was overpowered by his intended victims. It is believed he was stabbed to death.

A man who was shot in the neck during the attack is said to be fighting for his life in a Dublin hospital.

It is understood Sherry had targeted a father-and-son who were having dinner at the time. Both Sherry and the injured man are well-known to Gardaí for their involvement in drug crime in the area.

Two suspects in the case fled the scene in a white Audi car and Gardaí are calling on anyone with any information to get in touch as soon as possible.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee condemned the attack which is thought to be linked to a vicious west Dublin-based feud, which has already been responsible for a high number of assaults.

‘I deplore the violence in Blanchardstown,’ she said.

‘This viciousness has resulted in unimaginable human suffering this Christmas.

‘That anyone could perpetrate such violence as families gathered together is especially disgusting.

‘I’m thinking of the bereaved, those who were at the scene and indeed all the emergency service personnel working tonight and over Christmas who have to deal with this senseless violence.

‘I call on anyone with information of any kind to contact An Garda Síochána.’

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was ‘shocked’ to hear about the shooting at ‘a well-known family restaurant I’ve visited many times’.

‘Full Garda investigation under way. My thanks to them and solidarity to staff and customers,’ he wrote on social media.

Gardaí are also now ‘seriously concerned’ that innocent members of the public may be dragged into the feud after one gang offered the public over €1,000 for information on the whereabouts of rivals.

A security source explained: ‘Gardaí are now fearing a really large escalation in this feud following the attack. The general public in the area are being asked to give up the location of a rival gang member for cash.

‘This is being sold as a ‘no questions asked’ type of situation. But if someone does know this information and gives it up, they could be targeted by the gang for effectively informing on them which will put them and the family in danger. Also, they could unwittingly become party to a crime and may have the Gardaí knocking on their door if there are repercussions to this shooting.’

Multiple sources have told the Irish Daily Mail that they believe the horror attack to be linked to a feud in the Corduff area of west Dublin which has been ongoing for several years.

One told the Mail: ‘There’s been a feud since around 2019 involving a very serious drugs gang based out in Corduff. They’ve been at war with a Finglas-based drugs gang run by a young man who has been nicknamed Mr Flashy.

‘There have been several shootings and fire attacks on homes and cars due to this feud. There was even an incident when a man was attacked with a machete in a garda station over this feud.

‘It was being warned that it would be a matter of time before a murder and it’s happened. Sherry was known to Gardaí for his involvement in crime, especially his links to organised criminals.

‘What appears to have happened is he went in firing shots at the two men but was overpowered and beaten and stabbed by the uninjured man. It also looks like the men in the Audi outside realised that things had not gone to plan and sped off.

‘What we’re likely to see now is a ramping up of retaliations. Both sides of this feud are feared organised crime gangs who specialise in drug trafficking.

‘The Finglas group have links to the Westies gang, which was a serious outfit over the last two decades where the other side have their own pedigree.

‘The thing about this feud is that there are so many moving pieces. People who were once loyal to one gang are now on the other side and vice versa.’

As a result of the Christmas Eve shooting, Gardaí have increased both uniformed and armed patrols in parts of Dublin.

This will include the Corduff area but it is understood that areas of Finglas, known to be the strongholds of the leaders of the other gang will also have an increased Garda presence as a result of the attack.

Several videos of the aftermath of the event have been shared on social media in the hours after the incident.

In one video, a man can be seen lying on the ground covered in blood.

Other videos show people hiding under tables and screaming.

Gardaí have pleaded with members of the public to stop sharing these videos and instead give them any information which may help them apprehend those behind the attack.

They also urged people to be aware of serious misinformation being shared on social media.

A Garda spokesperson said today: ‘Gardaí are continuing to investigate an incident that occurred at premises on the Main Street in Blanchardstown Dublin 15 at around 8pm on Sunday.

‘A man in his 20s was fatally injured. A second male (aged in his 40s) continues to receive treatment for gunshot wounds. His condition remains serious.

‘An incident room has been established at Blanchardstown Garda Station. Local Gardaí are being assisted by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI).

‘The investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and a Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been appointed to liaise with both families.

‘An Garda Síochána is aware of videos of the incident and immediate aftermath which are in circulation on social media and messaging apps. We are appealing to the public for these videos not to be further distributed.

‘We are also appealing to the public to be aware of a significant level of speculation, misinformation and disinformation which is in circulation.

‘Gardaí have increased uniform patrols in the Dublin Region, with support from armed patrols, including the Garda Armed Support Unit.

‘Anyone with information on this incident or who may have video footage is asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.’

This has been the second gangland murder of the year. It comes after Brandon Ledwidge, who was in his 20s, was shot dead as he opened the door of his home in Finglas, north Dublin, last month.

Gardaí do not believe the two shootings are linked at this time.