Prints used to identify David Byrne

Regency Hotel shooting victim David Byrne died of multiple gunshot wounds, an inquest into his death heard.

The 33-year-old from Raleigh Square, Crumlin, Dublin 12 was shot dead at the Regency Hotel on February 5 last. He could not be visually identified due his injuries. He was formally identified using fingerprint records.

Mr Byrne’s mother and father attended Dublin Coroner’s Court yesterday where the main entrance was temporarily closed as Gardaí maintained a heavy security at the building.

At the brief hearing, Coroner Dr Brian Farrell heard evidence of formal identification and post mortem results regarding Mr Byrne’s death.

Detective Garda Cathal Hannigan, attached to the fingerprint section of the Garda Technical Bureau told the court he made a formal identification using Mr Byrne’s fingerprints, which matched three sets of fingerprints gardaí had on file, all belonging to David Byrne.

“I’m in no doubt that all four sets belong to the same person,” Det Hannigan said.

Mr Byrne was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis carried out an autopsy at the City Morgue in Marino. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. The deceased’s mother left the court as the post-mortem results were read out.

Inspector Brian Daly applied for a six month adjournment. “The criminal investigation is ongoing,” Insp Daly told the court.

Coroner Dr Brian Farrell asked the family if they had any questions, to which the deceased’s father replied ‘no, not at the moment.’

Dr Farrell adjourned the inquest to December 9.

“I am aware of some of the circumstances but I cannot take any more evidence this morning,” Dr Farrell said, extending his deepest condolences to the family on the violent death of their son.