Mediation has been offered to two members of the same groupinvolved in a feud that most recently resulted in the pellet gun shooting of an eight month old baby.  The child’s mother, as well as a teenage boy were also shot by the pellet gun.

The baby is currently being treated at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.  He was shot in the leg and might have been hit by as many as 16 pellet.  Injuries included a broken leg.

The shooting occurred while the family was putting up their Christmas tree at their home in West Dublin.  The intended target of the shooting was Michael Collins, who told the local newspaper was “pure evil”.

According to Collins, "The bullet was meant for me but I ducked just in time.  It was a disgrace - targeting a baby is beyond evil.  What did he do to anyone? It was my twin brother's baby who got shot.  He is not even a year old now and got a bullet in the legs".

Following the shooting, the two sides in the dispute were offered mediation that would be overseen by a community group. 

Local officials are calling on the families involved to not retaliate, and have stated that gun crime is a problem in Ireland.  According to a statement, the shooter is known to authorities and has been involved in summer programs throughout the years. 

One official stated the feud is not traditional and began during an incident two years ago.  She called the shooting “fall out” as a result of that incident.  She wants those involved to understand that violence is not the answer and that mediation can help them resolve the dispute once and for all.

The shooting was the culmination of several smaller attacks that have been initiated by both sides in recent months.