Witness saw 'man in balaclava stab victim', murder trial hears

A witness at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder saw a man in a balaclava stab another man, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Brian Rattigan (aged 28), Cooley Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (aged 20), Mourne Rd, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Rd, Crumlin on August 25, 2001.

It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Rattigan stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack” outside an Abrakebabra fast-food outlet.

Mark Skerrit told Mr Edward Comyn SC, prosecuting, that he was outside Abrakebabra at Crumlin Shopping Centre at approximatetely 3am on the night of the alleged murder.

He was with there with Jessica McGrane, Anita Freeman and James Naughton. The two girls went to get food while Mr Skerrit stood outside by Ms Freeman’s car, which was parked outside Abrakebabra.

Mr Skerrit said that he saw Declan Gavin and a number of other people he recognised.

There were two or three people there who had golf-clubs, he said.

“There was a lot of tension going on.”

Mr Skerrit said that a Nissan Micra pulled up outside Abrakebabra.

“It looked like there was a few in it. It pulled in like a taxi pulling in to pick someone up.”

Mr Skerrit told the jury that he “heard a scream” from the Nissan Micra.

“They screamed ‘Rat’,” he said.

“All of a sudden there was a fella running with a balaclava on... He had a knife... It was big.

“When he got out of the car everybody scattered.

“He was running with a knife in his hand. He was running for someone. He was running around like he was looking for someone.

“He found the fella he was looking for and Declan Gavin was on the ground, stabbed like.

Mr Skerrit said that the man in the balaclava “ran towards him [Mr Gavin] and stabbed him.”

“I don’t know where, in the chest I think.”

Mr Skerrit said that he then “grabbed a golf-club off one of the young fellas and chased the guy.

“I hit him a couple of times in the shoulders and head, as he was getting into the car.”

He said that the Nissan Micra pulled off in the direction of Dolphin’s Barn and that he then went inside Abrakebabra.

Mr Gavin was on the ground. “He was pale white, blood all over him.”

The trial continues.