Belfast taxi driver 'died from close-range gunshot'

A Belfast man died from a single gunshot wound to the head fired at close range, a murder trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard today.

The court heard that taxi driver Mr Edward Burns, a 36-year-old father of five, died from the single shot fired at close range about 15 centimetres from him.

A second gunshot wound through his left hand was probably caused by the same bullet because he had his hands covering his head when shot.

A statement read to the court from Dr Alastair Bentley, the Deputy State Pathologist of Northern Ireland, said that it was "quite likely" that Mr Burns was shot once, but the possibility that he had been shot twice could not be completely excluded.

Belfast man Gerard Mackin has denied the murder of taxi driver Mr Burns, of Prospect Park, Belfast, at Bog Meadow, Falls Road, Belfast on March 12, last year.

He also denies the attempted murder of Mr Damien O'Neill (aged 25), the possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and causing serious harm to Mr O'Neill on the same date.

Mackin (aged 26), a native of the Whiterock area of west Belfast, with an address at Raheen Close, Tallaght, Dublin has opted for trial in the Republic under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act of 1976 which allows suspects to be tried in the Republic for alleged offences in Britain or Northern Ireland.

The court last month heard evidence over two days at Belfast Crown Court from a number of witnesses who were reluctant to travel to Dublin, including the main prosecution witness, Mr Damien O'Neill, who was himself shot twice during the incident but survived.

Mr O'Neill identified the accused Mackin as the man who shot Mr Burns and who then shot him (O'Neill.)

The court heard evidence today from a number of Police Service of Northern Ireland officers who told of finding Mr Burns’ body at Bog Meadow.

Detective Garda Tom Doran, of the Special Detective Unit, told the court that he arrested Mackin in Tallaght on November 11, 2007, under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act of 1976.

The trial continues tomorrow.