Rattigan trial jury continues to consider verdict

A jury at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder has been sent to home for the night.

New legislation that came in on January 1 this year allows for a deliberating jury to be sent home rather than to a hotel.

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”.

The prosecution say that Mr Rattigan’s palm prints were found on the window of Abrakebabra after the alleged murder and that he told gardaí 11 days later that he had not been the Abrakebabra for “four months”.

The defence say that the “most striking thing” about the case is “the lack of evidence” and that 17 other prints were found at the scene of the stabbing and were never identified.

Today, Mr Justice Barry White delivered his charge to the jury.

He told them that they must ignore the fact that Mr Rattigan is currently serving cumulative sentences of 13 years and that they “cannot treat him differently than someone who has never been in trouble before”.

The jury will resume its deliberations tomorrow morning.