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<\/p>\nDetectives investigating the murder of Mr Little believe he was shot as part of an ongoing feud between rival criminal gangs<\/p>\n
04:00, 17 Jun 2026Updated 07:50, 17 Jun 2026<\/p>\n
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(Image: Niall Carson\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
A Garda investigation into the suspected gangland murder of a young man whose body was found beside his burnt-out vehicle close to the M1 motorway seven years ago is an ongoing and complex case, an inquest has heard.<\/p>\n
Se\u00e1n Little, 22, from Kilbarron Avenue, Kilmore, Dublin<\/a> 5 was shot dead at around 11pm on May 21, 2019 just off the M1 close to Junction 5 outside Balbriggan, Co Dublin.<\/p>\n His body was located next to his burnt-out Vauxhall Insignia on a laneway at Rowans Little which leads to Walshestown, Co Dublin.<\/p>\n A postmortem confirmed Mr Little had died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest.<\/p>\n At a brief sitting of Dublin District Coroner\u2019s Court on Tuesday, Detective Inspector Jim McDermott applied for an adjournment of the inquest into Mr Little\u2019s death on the basis that the Garda<\/a> investigation into the circumstances of his murder is ongoing.<\/p>\n Det Insp McDermott told coroner Clare Keane that it was a complex case.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is going to be some more time before a file goes to the DPP,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Det Insp McDermott said the investigation\u2019s main line of inquiry related to a witness who is currently outside the jurisdiction.<\/p>\n He explained that the matter involved a European arrest warrant which added to the \u201clegal complexity\u201d of the case.<\/p>\n The inspector said the deceased\u2019s family were aware of progress in the ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n Dr Keane granted the application and adjourned the inquest for a further update on December 15, 2026.<\/p>\n The deceased was known to garda\u00ed and was believed to have been involved in organised crime with links to the Kinahan crime cartel, although he had no serious criminal convictions.<\/p>\n Detectives investigating the murder of Mr Little believe he was shot as part of an ongoing feud between rival criminal gangs in the Coolock area and was lured to the scene of the fatal shooting by someone he knew and trusted.<\/p>\n Garda\u00ed also suspect a black saloon-type vehicle that was seen following the deceased\u2019s car up the off-ramp at Junction 5 and rejoining the M1 towards Dublin a few minutes later at around 11.10pm. may have been involved in his murder.<\/p>\n The vehicle was travelling at speed and with its headlights off as it came down the on-ramp to the motorway.<\/p>\n A week after Mr Little\u2019s murder, another man, Hamid Sanambar , 34 \u2013 an Iranian national who was also known as Mohammad Ali Khorram \u2013 was shot dead outside the deceased\u2019s home as people attended his wake on May 28, 2019.<\/p>\n Khorram, who is believed to have engaged in criminal activity with Mr Little, was suspected of having played a role in organising his former associate\u2019s murder.<\/p>\n Garda\u00ed also suspected that he may have been involved in the murder of Jordan Davis, 22, in Darndale, Dublin the day after Mr Little\u2019s murder as well as two other incidents in which males received gunshot wounds.<\/p>\n In August 2020, the deceased\u2019s father, Stephen Little, 53, was sentenced to six years in prison over plans to avenge his son\u2019s murder by threatening to kill the individual who took his son\u2019s life.<\/p>\n Little was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court after pleading guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on September 14, 2019.<\/p>\n The court heard that he had told garda\u00ed after his arrest that \u201chad you given me another hour, I would have killed the bastard that killed him.\u201d<\/p>\n It also heard that the case against Little would have been weaker and he may not have been charged if he had not made such comments.<\/p>\n Little\u2019s co-accused, Edward McDonnell, 62, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, Co Wexford was also sentenced to nine years in prison for the same offence.<\/p>\n Want to see more of the stories you love from Dublin Live? Making us your preferred source on Google<\/a> <\/strong>means you\u2019ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Dublin Live as a preferred source, simply click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click<\/strong> this link<\/strong> <\/a>to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.<\/strong><\/p>\n