Party shooting inquest adjourned

The inquest into the death of mother-of-one Donna Cleary was adjourned for five months today to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to examine the garda file.

The parents of the young woman, who was gunned down outside a 40th birthday party in Coolock, were present at Dublin City Coroner’s Court as the case was adjourned until April 23 next year.

Inspector Ray Kavanagh, on behalf of the superintendent at Coolock, said the file was currently with the DPP.

He sought an adjournment under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act to allow the DPP time to consider the file.

Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said: “It will take a little while before we know the DPP’s decision in the matter.

“I am going to adjourn the inquest into Donna’s death until April 23.”

Mr Kavanagh said: “Gardaí from Coolock are constantly in contact with the family.”

Gardaí believe Ms Cleary was shot dead by a man who had been refused entry to the party.

The 22-year-old was hit when the gunman opened fire indiscriminately, shooting five times at the front of the house on Castlekevin Road in Kilmore.

Ms Cleary was hit in the upper body and died as a result of her injuries just two hours later.

Her son, Dylan, then aged two, was inside at the time.

Within hours, five men had been arrested over the killing.

One of those, the chief suspect, Dwane Foster, died from a brain haemorrhage in a garda cell after being questioned about his role in the murder.

Foster, a heroin addict from Woodbank Avenue, Finglas, had 28 criminal convictions. He was also a prime suspect for a number of recent big robberies in the Dublin area.

Three eyewitnesses, who knew Foster, were prepared to identify him as the gunman who opened fire with a 9mm handgun as he leaned across the bonnet of a silver Volvo. Foster had earlier been refused entry to a party at the house, although a group of his associates were told they could attend.