Feud alert after hit & run killing

GARDAI are on high alert as there are fears of retaliation attacks following a hit-and-run which claimed the life of a man in his 30s.

- EXCLUSIVE BY NICOLA DONNELLY

Sources say the victim, named locally as Mircea Rostas was targeted in a feud-related incident among members of the Roma community in Balbriggan, north Co Dublin.

On Monday night local people gathered around the man's body shortly after the horrific incident at around 9pm.

One distraught youth, who was with Mr Rostas, sobbed: "He's not breathing" and "I had beef with them for ages," in relation to the alleged suspects.

Mr Rostas was mowed down by a vehicle on Railway Street in the town.

The vehicle failed to remain at the scene. Shortly afterwards, in a second incident involving three cars, a black BMW 3 series was rammed outside Balbriggan Garda station on Drogheda Street.

The Garda Public Order unit was deployed as tensions mounted in the seaside town shortly after both incidents. Two crime scenes were declared and remained sealed off in the town until yesterday afternoon.