A DOORMAN who had a bullet lodged in his brain after a gunman opened fire outside a pub in Fairview, Dublin, has regained consciousness and has now been interviewed by detectives. It is understood arrests are likely within weeks in the garda investigation.

Wayne Barrett (31), who is in the intensive care unit of Beaumont Hospital, was one of three men injured after a gunman carrying two handguns shot into a crowd of people outside the Players Lounge in Fairview on 25 July. He was lucky to survive after a bullet became lodged in his brain in the attack.

Barrett is understood to be making a good recovery and is now fully conscious. He was unable to provide gardaí with much information as the lone gunman was wearing a balaclava.

Detectives believe the shooting is linked to a long-running turf war over security at bars and clubs in the city.

Former republicans were peripherally involved in the attack but one source stressed that the significance of this had been over-emphasised in the media.

The source added that it was "a miracle" lives had not been lost in the shooting and that the doorman had made a "miraculous recovery".

The lone assailant approached the pub at the junction of Fairview Strand and Philipsburgh Avenue on foot shortly before 12.30am on 25 July. He fired up to six shots during the attack.

As well as shooting the innocent doorman, who was the intended target, two customers standing outside were also shot in the incident. Austin Purcell (24), from Marino, was shot in the chest. His friend Brian Masterson (30) was shot in the back. Both have recovered from their injuries but will require on-going medical treatment.