Gardai have arrested a man they suspect was part of the gangland hit team that blasted a low level drug dealer outside a gym.
John Gibson was blasted to death on September 18, 2017 as he left a fitness club in West Dublin.
He was shot multiple times including three times to the head during the horrific execution near the Eddie Rockets in Citywest Shopping Centre in West Dublin.
He was sitting in his car when he was shot at point blank range.
He managed to clamber out of the car in a desperate bid to escape the hail of bullets but was mercilessly shot down.
Now detectives probing the death have moved in on a 22-year-old man who they suspect was part of the hit team.
Gardai arrest man, 22, in connection with murder of Dublin fitness instructor John Gibson
A source said: “This has been a very detailed investigation - the gardai are tracking a number of suspects in this but it is related to an ongoing feud in the area.
“It came just days after John Gibson’s best friend Daragh Nugent was gunned down in the same dispute.
“There has been a number of flashpoint but this is a very local issue and the people involved are all involved in the drugs trade.”
The dead man was not without a criminal past - he had 23 previous convictions and was on bail awaiting a court appearance for sale and supply of heroin.
Investigators believe he was murdered as part of an ongoing bloody gangland feud in the Clondalkin/Lucan area of West Dublin.
The 28-year-old dad of two was killed just days after his close pal, Darragh Nugent, who was a notorious drug dealer and gangster.
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Gibson was small time player in the Dublin drugs trade and had begun to travel regularly to the gangland hub of Amsterdam.
A garda spokesman said the suspect can be detained for a maximum of three days.
He said: “Gardaí at Tallaght Dublin 24 investigating a fatal shooting on the 18th September 2017 (Previous Press Release attached for information) have arrested a 22 year old man this morning, Monday 25th March 2019 in connection with this investigation.
“He is currently detained at Tallaght Garda Station under the provisions of Section 30 – Offences Against the State Act 1939 - investigations are continuing.”
