Children ‘scream hysterically’ as mum-of-six and her pal are machine-gunned to death when hitmen storm Dublin home – but intended target survives after being shot ‘while holding baby’
The intended target, who survived the deadly attack in Ballymun yesterday, was holding a baby when the gunman opened fire
THIS is the first picture of a tragic mum-of-six shot dead in a "barbaric" gangland shooting in Dublin as terrified children "screamed hysterically" during the bloodbath.
The victims were both described as “completely innocent” while the woman's brother - who was the intended target of the shooting - survived the attack after he escaped with a baby in his arms.
Hitmen targeting Antoinette's brother Derek Devoy, 37, had entered the house in Ballymun, Dublin, which was packed with kids and opened fire.
Tragic Antoinette Corbally, who has special needs, and her pal were killed, while three others including a child were caught up in the bloodbath.
The tot carried by Devoy was injured with a bump to the head but survived the terrifying attack, while a woman - believed to be pregnant - was rushed to hospital.
One neighbour told "All we could hear was babies screaming hysterically".
Devoy - nicknamed "Bottler" - reportedly hurled the baby to safety and jumped over a fence to escape the bullets.
The intended target has been locked in a war with Dublin's Lynch mob after they murdered his brother "Mad Mickey" three years ago.
Devoy is also embroiled in a turf war with a rival Ballymun gang.
He is considered one of Ireland's most dangerous prisoners until his release in 2015 and has spent eight years in jail for armed robberies and shooting at two neighbours.
Neighbour Carmel Byrne said: "We heard the babies screaming. The girl was dead. She was in the hallway.
"Yer man ran in, he went in on top of kids and opened fire. I ran in and told everyone to ‘get the f*** out’ in case he’d come back and open fire again."
Carmel added: "I tried to get them all out. The chap was in the car and I went over and did that you know (indicating CPR). I kept him alive.
"Then the ambulance and all turned up. He was in the driver seat. He was shot in the heart, the neck and the arm, because I checked to see where he was shot. I don’t know who it was but some chap was begging me to keep him going until the ambulance came.
“I told him ‘I’ll do my best’ and I kept doing the CPR. The guard came down and I just got towels and pressed on him.
“The guards were only a few minutes and then the ambulance took over.
“There was the girl that was pregnant injured too and the other chap. But I was trying to get them all out of there because everyone was hysterical. I was trying to see who was who."
The hit team consisted of a getaway driver and a gunman armed with a machine gun.
It has since emerged that cops discovered a "sub machine gun" and a handgun in a partially burnt out vehicle found nearby.
Antoinette is believed to have lived at the house with her mother who is said to be in her 70s.
The elderly grandmother was reportedly in hospital at the time of the attack being treated for a serious illness.
A number of young children - including two babies - were understood to be in the house at the time the gunman stormed in and started shooting.
Police have now swamped the area and set up widespread checkpoints.
Devoy's brother Mad Mickey was murdered a day after being released from prison three years ago.
He had tried to kill drug dealer Greg Lynch in 2013 by shooting him in the face outside a pub but the gangster survived.
A €20,000 contract was put out on Mickey and the Lynch mob celebrated his death with a party, according to .
Local TD Noel Rock has called the killing a “shocking development.”
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said the murders were outrageous.
"These ruthless people have no regard for human life and this will not be tolerated," he said.
"The gardai continue to confront this threat daily and are determined to see those involved brought to justice.
"This callous, cold-blooded violence has no place in our communities - the Government and gardai stand with the people of Ballymun against such despicable acts."
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Mr Flanagan vowed to maintain high-visibility policing to combat gun attacks, including extensive armed checkpoints across Dublin.
Roisin Shortall, local Social Democrat TD, said there had been recent tensions in the area and that the community feared an escalation of violence.
"The horrific incident is a chilling reminder of the extent of gangland crime on Dublin's streets, much of it drug-fuelled," she said.
"The incident should act as a wake-up call to the Government that gangland crime in Dublin remains prevalent and wreaks havoc across the city and in many local communities.
"It is crucial to invest in adequate policing and it is also crucial to invest in and to sustain investment in building safe and strong communities across the city."
A garda spokesman said: “Gardai and emergency services are at the scene of a shooting incident at Balbutcher Drive in Ballymun, Dublin 11.
“The incident was reported to Gardai shortly before 4pm on August 16, 2017.
“On arrival at the scene Gardai discovered a woman and a man suffering from apparent serious gunshot wounds.
He added: “Two others a woman and a man are being treated for less serious injuries at the Mater Hospital.
“A silver Opel Zafira with 08 LS plates was found partially burnt out a short distance from the scene.
“The area is sealed off pending the arrival of Garda Scenes of Crime Examiners.
“Anyone who was in the Balbutcher Drive area this afternoon between 3pm and 4pm is asked to contact Ballymun Garda Station on 01 666 4400.”
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