Witness testifies in Dublin murder trial

A witness at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder saw a man wearing a balaclava get out of a car that had “screeched” to a halt outside an Abrakebabra fast-food outlet, the Central Criminal Court 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 got out of a Nissan Micra that had pulled up outside the Abrakebabra fast-food outlet at Crumlin Shopping Centre before he stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack”.

Lorraine O’Driscoll told Mr Edward Comyn SC, prosecuting, that she was out with friends on the night of the alleged murder and went to Abrakebabra at approximately 2.50am.

Ms O’Driscoll said that she knew the deceased, Mr Gavin.

She said that he stood beside her in the queue for food.

“I hadn’t seen him in a few years. We talked for about 10 minutes. He was in grand form, he was real relaxed.”

“Declan said he’d pay for the food,” she said.

Ms O’Driscoll told the court that she and her friends ate their food and left after about 10 minutes. Mr Gavin walked with them and asked if they wanted to share a taxi.

When Ms O’Driscoll said that she was getting a lift Mr Gavin walked back toward Abrakebabra.

Ms O’Driscoll said that she then heard a car.

“It could have been screeched tyres. I sort of stopped and looked back. I seen a car on the road. When I turned around I just seen somebody getting out of the car. I ran. I just remember seeing a balaclava and that’s when I turned. I ran across the road to try and get a taxi.”

Ms O’Driscoll told the court that her friend’s boyfriend picked them up and that when they drove past Abrakebabra she saw a security-guard “running, looking for help or something”.

Garda Thomas Lynch told Mr Comyn that he was the first guard on the scene. He said that he noticed blood on the ground and on Abrakebabra’s front door. He pushed open the door with his foot and when he went inside he saw blood on the floor.

He saw a man lying on the floor in the back of the premises.

“The man was injured. There was blood on his chest. At least four people were attending to him.”