Rattigan trial jury sent home for weekend

A jury at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder has been home for the weekend. The six men and six women have so far been deliberating for approximately 11 hours.

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”.

Today, the jury asked to listen again to the evidence of Det Gda Christopher O'Connor and Det Sgt Seamus Quinn.

During the trial, Det Gda O'Connor told the jury that he found a palm mark on the exterior of Abrakebabra's window, which he later matched to Mr Rattigan.

Det Sgt Quinn told the court that he took a swab from two inches below the palm mark on the window. The swab was later confirmed as blood, DNA profiled, and matched to a sample of Mr Gavin's blood.

The jury will resume its deliberations on Monday morning.