‘Pub drinkers knew who murdered my son’

UP to 60 people who were in a pub when father-of-nine Thomas Canavan was gunned down, know his murderer, his mother claimed last night.

There were 60 people drinking in Cleary’s pub in Dublin’s Inchicore as Mr Canavan, 35, was shot in a “grudge killing” on August 4, 2003 by a lone gunman wearing a motorcycle helmet.

Mr Canavan’s mother, Bridie, said: “everyone who was in the pub that nightknew who did it.

“The gardaí have no evidence to say who killed Thomas, but we all know who killed my son,” she said after the inquest.

Mr Canavan’s partner, Mary Culley, said: “I just want justice for the children as they grow up. People gave statements to the gardaí but didn’t name who killed Thomas.”

Mrs Canavan spoke out to the court as a witness and friend of Mr Canavan’s, Jason Meredith, was on the stand. She said: “why didn’t he say, he knows who did it. Why didn’t he tell the police?”

However, Mr Meredith, who was drinking with Mr Canavan in the Sarsfield Road pub that Bank Holiday Monday, said: “if I recognised him, I’d say it. How can I say I knew the individual when I didn’t see his face.” It is believed that Mr Canavan, from Myra Close in Inchicore, had been involved in a number of minor disputes and was shot in a “grudge killing”. It is understood gardaí know the Killers identity.

The Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard that a group of people had been drinking in Cleary’s pub since mid-afternoon before they moved upstairs to a small pool room.

A friend of Mr Canavan’s, Jackie Norton, who was drinking with the group, said: “someone appeared at the top of the steps, I thought for a second one of the lads was playing a prank.”

Ms Norton said the man holding the automatic handgun had said: “you got away with it before Canavan, you won’t do it again.”

“Tommo dropped the pool stick and turned to run, there was a pop and Tommo fell down,” she said.

Several witnesses said the man was dressed in black and described as a skinny.

Inspector Gabriel O’Gara said there was an extensive investigation. However, no prosecutions had been brought.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell, said: “We would appeal to the public to come forward and assist in inquiries.” Dr Declan Gilsenan, who was acting State Pathologist at the time, said he died from massive haemorrhaging after a bullet wound to the chest.

The jury passed a verdict of unlawful killing by a person unidentified.