Leisureplex worker chased by man with shotgun

A Jordanian man has told a jury in the Central Criminal Court that he had "no shadow of a doubt" that the man who came at him with a sawn-off shotgun while he was working at the Leasureplex in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, was trying to murder him.

Darren Larkin (aged 23), of no fixed address denies attempting to murder Akef Alquasar with a sawn-off shotgun in the early hours of February 20, 2006. He also denies two further charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Mr Alquasar told Mr Shane Murphy SC, prosecuting, that he had known Larkin since he was a small boy as his family lived round the corner from him in the Sheepmore Estate in Dublin 15.

He said when a man wearing a hat came into the Leasureplex at 4.40am on February 20, 2006 he immediately recognised him as Larkin. He told the jury of six men and six women that Larkin "just stood there for three or four seconds and just looked at me. He knew I recognised him."

He held his arms up to show the jury how his assailant had held the gun as he ran towards him. He told Mr Murphy that he used to go shooting at home in Jordan and held a legal gun licence for Ireland and recognised the gun as a double barrelled shotgun that had been shortened.

Mr Alquasar said that when Larkin was about 7 or 8 meters away, he fired straight at him, hitting him in the side of the head. He stopped to take a drink of water before telling the court how Larkin had followed him as he dived behind the nearby bowling registration desk. He said Larkin pointed the gun down at him and took aim.

Bowling shoes were kept behind the counter and Mr Alquasar described throwing them at his assailant. "I was screaming like mad. I was picking up the shoes, these shoes at the back and throwing them. I was throwing them and I was hitting him in the face and I was screaming."

He said Larkin hesitated for about 15 or 20 seconds and seemed to be having trouble with the gun. Mr Alquasar said he saw him "break" the gun and reload it.

He told Mr Murphy that the second shot missed and Larkin started running towards the exit. He said he ran after him and shouted: "Larkin you fucking bastard, I'm going to get you!" Larkin drove off in a small red car that had been parked in a disabled parking spot outside.

Mr Alquasar told Ms Mary Ellen Ring SC, defending, that he worked Thursday to Sunday night in the Leasureplex as security manager. He had Monday to Wednesday off.

He told the court that for some years his "hobby" was providing "transit damaged" electrical appliances; bankrupt stock and duty free alcohol and cigarettes to local families.

He said that at Christmas time he sold toys to mothers who wanted to get their children presents but couldn't afford the prices in the shops. He told the court people could pay him a little every week.

He agreed with Ms Ring that he did not keep records and had not informed Revenue of any profits he made but the money "went straight in and straight out" because he had a serious gambling problem over 10 or 12 years.

He said he had not notified Customs about the duty free beer, wine and spirits he would sell because he did not bring them into the country and it was "not my responsibility".

Mr Alquasar acknowledged that he sometimes had bad debts but when this happened he "just kept asking again and again" and simply refused to deal with people who gave him trouble.

He agreed with Ms Ring that his home had been searched on several occasions by both Customs and Revenue and on one occasion gardaí from the Bridewell Garda Station came with a warrant to search for drugs.

He said this was simply because someone had phoned them to make a complaint but all the gardaí found was a "substantial quantity" of alcohol. They confiscated at least 50 or 60 trays of beer and two or three boxes of spirits.

He said it was well know locally that he was very active against drugs and joyriding in the local area.

"We would stop the cars and stop them burning the cars. It was a very serious problem with joyriding in the area and I was very much against it."

The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Éamon de Valera and the jury.