Garda sceptical of Real IRA’s claim they killed drug dealer

GARDAÍ investigating the brutal murder of a convicted Cork-based drug dealer are sceptical of claims a Real IRA hit squad was behind the shooting.

Reports yesterday claimed the illegal organisation had claimed responsibility for the shooting of 42-year-old Gerard “Topper” Staunton eight days ago.

In a letter sent to a number of newspapers, representatives of the group behind the 1998 Omagh bombing claimed they murdered Mr Staunton because of his drugs world connections.

Gardaí are treating the matter seriously and have said they are continuing to investigate all lines of inquiry. However, it is understood officers are treating the claim with a degree of scepticism and, instead, believe the murder may have been the result of a personal altercation.

In the letter sent with a recognised code word, a group reportedly representing the Real IRA in Cork said they were responsible for the lethal assault.

The document continued to allege that the murder was necessary after previous warnings from the group to drug dealers last September were “ignored”.

“We warned then that our actions would speak louder than a thousand words and last week was testament to that. On this occasion our hand was forced,” the correspondence read.

Mr Staunton died after he was shot in the chest with a shotgun as he got into his Audi car outside his home in Westlawn estate on the Sarsfield Road just before 8pm last Wednesday.

The 42-year-old, who had a previous conviction for drug offences, was killed in front of his partner, while stray bullets hit the rear seat of a car in which the children of the Cork man’s partner were sitting. Gardaí say the children were lucky to escape unharmed.

They believe a woman aged between 25 and 35 with shoulder-length blonde hair, who was seen in the nearby vicinity at the time of incident, can help them with their inquiries.

An incident room has been set up in Togher Garda Station and can be contacted on 021-4947129.

Anyone concerned about drug dealing in their area, contact the confidential Dial to Stop Drug Dealing line on 1800-220220.