Gunman shot victim in head, inquest told

A gunman was just inches from a dad of 10 when he discharged a fatal shot to the back of his head, an inquest heard.

Gerard Fitzgerald’s left ear was blown off by the force of the shot during the attack in North Dublin.

Mr Fitzgerald was found in a pool of blood at the junction of Oldtown Road and Shanliss Road in Finglas on November 21, 2001.

The 48-year-old had been involved in a long-running feud with members of his extended family.

State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy today told Dublin City Coroner’s Court the dead man was shot twice in the right thigh disabling him and once in the left arm.

She said the final wound behind his left ear caused damage to the brain and resulted in his death.

The gunman was less then six feet away from Mr Fitzgerald when he was shot in the leg, disabling him and causing him to fall to the ground.

Evidence of soot in the scalp meant the gun was within inches of the victim’s head when the final bullet was fired, said Dr Cassidy.

“These injures would have caused immediate collapse into unconsciousness and rapid death,” she added.

No alcohol or drugs were found in his system and there was no evidence of a previous assault.

Forensic evidence confirmed several spent shotgun cartridges were found lying near the dead man’s body were all fired from the same weapon, believed to be an 11-gauge single barrel semi-automatic shotgun.

Det Sergeant Shane Henry, of the ballistic unit at Garda Headquarters, told Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell no weapon has ever been submitted in relation to the shooting.

“We continue to cross-reference all submitted weapons and fire arms against all outstanding crimes to see if any have been used in the past,” he added.

A CCTV image captured Mr Fitzgerald walking down Shanliss Road just two minutes before he was killed.

The same camera showed a silver hatchback car, believed to be a Rover 214, circling the Oldtown Road area numerous times in the 15 minutes leading up to the shooting. The stolen car was later recovered, but had been completely gutted by fire, destroying all forensic evidence.

Garda Patrick Kelly said he believed the occupants’ of the car were aware of Mr Fitzgerald’s movements and were travelling in wait.

Witnesses, who live near the scene of the fatal shooting, remember hearing four loud bangs, then a car door slamming and wheels spinning.

One man recalled: “He looked to be taking his last breath.”

Mr Fitzgerald’s son, David, had previously told the hearing his father had been attacked a number of times and there had been a previous attempt on his life in the 12 months prior to his killing.

The fatal attack in November 2001 was the second time the 48-year-old had received gunshot wounds – on November 6, 2000, he was shot several times outside his home at Rathvilly Park in Finglas.

The first gun attack took place just over a week prior to the shooting dead of his nephew, Francis Fitzgerald, 26, on November 16, 2000.