Man’s partner and children inches away as he was shot

THE gunman who shot dead a 41-year-old convicted drugs dealer with his partner and her two children just inches away showed a “callous and brutal disregard for human life”, according to investigating gardaí.

Wednesday night’s killing of Gerard ‘Topper’ Staunton at his home in Westlawn, off the Sarsfield Road in Cork city, bore all the hallmarks of a professional gangland murder, except for the getaway vehicle.

Superintendent Charlie Barry, who is leading the Garda investigation, said he was surprised the killer had chosen an 18-year-old van for his escape.

The red Toyota Liteace van, which had a 92-C registration, was found burnt out 6.5km away at Castlewhite, Waterfall, at around 8.10pm on Wednesday.

Gardaí know the van exited on to the Sarsfield Road.

Supt Barry said the getaway van was very distinctive as it had bull bars fitted to the front.

The gunman, described as being 6ft tall and wearing dark clothes and a balaclava, had struck around 20 minutes earlier.

Supt Barry said Mr Staunton had put his partner’s young children into the back seat of his car outside their house. He and his partner were preparing to get into the vehicle when the gunman walked up and fired one shot from a shotgun at almost point blank range into his chest.

“There is a short time frame between the time of the shooting and the time the van was reported burnt out, which would lead us to believe it left the scene travelling at very high speed,” he said.

* An incident room has been set up at Togher Garda Station and witnesses are asked to call 021-4947129.