Gun attacks in Ireland decline as more contract killers are jailed

Gun attacks in Ireland have significantly decreased, with a reported 85% drop in injuries from gun assaults since 2005. In 2023, only nine people were hospitalized for gunshot wounds, down from 38 in 2013 and 13 in 2022. The number of gun-related deaths has also fallen, with just two fatalities last year and three in 2023. This contrasts sharply with the 2000s, when annual gun killings often approached 20. Authorities attribute this decline to increased policing and the jailing of contract killers linked to the Kinahan-Hutch feud. Enhanced intelligence and anti-gang measures have helped prevent potential attacks, keeping firearms off the streets.