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Gangland target Derek 'Bottler' Devoy gloated "they missed me" as he fled from bullets in this week's attempted hit on his life – without realising his sister had been gunned down.

The 37-year-old criminal managed to flee with his life, but mum-of-six Antoinette Corbally was shot dead at a house in Ballymun alongside another victim, Clinton Shannon.

Devoy was holding a baby at the time two thugs approached him, after he got out of a car outside the property, and he managed to drop the tot at the door as he fled.

A source told the Irish Mirror last night that tension in the area is high and it is feared associates of Bottler will try to kill those behind Wednesday afternoon’s shooting as well as innocent family members.

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He said Devoy returned to the scene of the attack that night furious over what had happened.

The source added: "Devoy was seen up in the general area screaming at the top of his lungs in anger with his top off.

"He was extremely close to his sister and is believed to be devastated at what has happened.

"When he fled the gunmen he was apparently heard saying, ‘They missed me’, as if he was relieved. At that stage he probably didn’t realise his sister had been murdered along with another man.

"He didn’t realise the gunmen had gone on a bloody rampage.

"It’s now feared associates of his will try and get revenge for what happened.

"It’s believed Bottler had been in the car that had pulled up outside the house with the baby and was dropping them home.

"He was standing at the front door with the baby seat and child in his arms when the gunmen pulled up and opened fire.

"Had the gunmen fired at the car which Shannon was in they would have more than likely have killed the little baby too.

"These thugs don’t give a second thought as to what they are doing or who they are killing.”

Mr Shannon, 30, a locksmith from Swords, was gunned down as he sat in the car outside the house on Balbutcher Drive, Ballymun, at 4pm on Wednesday.

It was unclear last night whether he was a friend of Devoy, who has convictions for attempted armed robbery and a non-fatal drive-by shooting of his neighbours in the area, or was there to work on Ms Corbally’s home.

The innocent mum’s pregnant niece Andrea Corbally, 18, and another man, 52-year-old Brian Moran, were treated in hospital after suffering minor injuries in the attack.

It is understood Devoy has not gone into hiding despite being warned by gardai his life is in danger.

The shooting is believed to be a local dispute and not related to the ongoing Kinahan-Hutch feud .

CCTV footage, including images from a camera at the top of the road where the shooting took place, is being examined by detectives.

Gardai continued their manhunt for the two attackers yesterday and were seen carrying out house-to-house inquiries and searches of adjacent gardens.

Locals in the Balbutcher Drive area were still coming to terms with the sickening double murder.

Sinn Fein councillor Noeleen Reilly, who lives a few streets away from where the murders took place, yesterday called for more gardai to be made available.

She said: “People are just devastated that it happened in our community. They are very worried and fear what is going to happen next.

“The fact it could happen in broad daylight is frightening.

(Image: Sinn Fein)

“That innocent people could be shot at indiscriminately is just awful.

“It’s in an area where there are a lot of young kids and also a lot of older people.

“Whoever committed this atrocity didn’t care about who they hurt and just wanted to kill as many people as possible.

“As long as this carries on more innocent people are going to lose their lives.

“It really needs to be tackled head-on by the gardai. We have never had less gardai on the streets of Ballymun. In 2011 we had 15 community gardai and now we are down to six.

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“There are not enough to police the area.

“They are doing as much as they can with the limited resources they have. It must be very frustrating for them.”

Chief Supt Lorraine Wheatley and Det Supt Colm Fox told reporters an incident room has been set up at Ballymun Garda station.

(Image: Collins Photo Agency)

Chief Supt Wheatley said: “I want to appeal to the community for any information they may have in respect of this crime. We are particularly interested in anybody who may have been in Balbutcher Drive at around 4pm.

“We’re also appealing to anybody who may have dash cameras – particularly delivery drivers and taxi drivers – as that footage may be of some use.”

She added Gardai have an interest in two cars – a silver Opel Zafira with registration 08-LS-3101, which was found in Balbutcher Drive, and a Volkswagen Golf GTi with registration 04-LH-3466 that was found in Santry Close.

Anyone who has information about the shooting is asked to contact their local Garda station.

Alternatively, they can provide details anonymously through Crimestoppers on 1800 250025.

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