A Dublin man who died after an attack outside Crumlin Shopping Centre eight years ago was killed in a “targeted attack,” the Central Criminal Court heard today.
Brian Rattigan (28), Cooley Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (20), Mourne Rd, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Rd, Crumlin.
Opening the prosecution case, Mr Edward Comyn SC told the jury that the alleged murder took place beside Abrakebabra at Crumlin Shopping Centre at approximately 3am on August 25th 2001.
Mr Comyn said that a lot of young people had gathered there and that there are "quite a number of witnesses to be called.
"A body of credible evidence will emerge from their descriptions," he said.
Mr Comyn told the jury that a Nissan Micra pulled up outside Abrakebabra at 3.15am.
"This Micra was later found burned out at a nearby industrial estate.
"There were at least three people in that car, possibly four, all of them young men.
"A passenger got out of the car. He had a sort of balaclava on his head, had a large knife in one of his hands. It appears that people in the car were shouting 'Get him, get the rat.'
The prosecution will say that this alleged shouting "seems to show there was some malice toward somebody outside Abrakebabra.
"It is the prosecution's case that that person was Declan Gavin."
Mr Comyn said that the accused "ran at Mr Gavin and attacked him.
"The evidence will show you that the first blow was to the arm and that the second blow struck the chest, deep enough to reach into his heart, which ultimately proved fatal."
Mr Comyn said that blood found on the front window of Abrakebabra and to the left of the front door will be of "particular significance."
He also told the jury that it "does appear from the evidence that this attack was a targeted attack on Mr Gavin."
Joseph Duncan told the court that he was working as a security-guard at the Texas Fried Chicken, a take-away restaurant beside Abrakebabra, at the time of the alleged murder.
He said that he went outside to have a smoke at approximately 3.15am and that there were about thirty to forty young people gathered outside and inside Abrakebabra.
Mr Duncan said that he noticed three girls move cars from outside Abrakebabra to outside Texas Fried Chicken.
"I thought that was unusual," he said.
"When I seen the cars moving I said there's going to be trouble."
Mr Duncan said that he saw another car arriving on the scene. "It came from Crumlin and stopped outside Abrakebabra. At the time I saw two people in the car, the driver and another person."
He said that one of the girls who had been standing outside walked toward the car and "had words" with the person in the passenger seat. "She kicked the car and walked away from it."
Mr Duncan saw a man then walk out of Abrakebabra. "He approached the car. Somebody shouted out, 'You rat'. Another man got out of the passenger side of the car.
"He was wearing a balaclava. He walked towards the guy who came out of Abrakebabra and stuck the knife in him."
Mr Duncan said that the knife was "fairly big, like a butcher knife."
Niall Hannigan told the jury that he was also working in Texas Fried Chicken at the time of the alleged murder.
He said that he also saw a Nissan Micra stop outside Abrakebabra and a man in a balaclava get out of the car.
"I remember somebody shouting, 'He has a shooter.'
"After he moved I seen he had a knife in his hand.
"The fella that got stabbed ran down the steps towards Abrakebabra. He was trying to get in the door. The fella with the knife ran back towards the car."
Mr Duncan told the jury that he went into Texas Fried Chicken to call the police and that when he returned outside he saw the Nissan Micra "pulling away and driving in the direction of Dolphin's Barn."
The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Barry White.