Murder trial hears more evidence

A burnt-out Nissan Micra was discovered in the Cookstown Industrial Estate the morning after an alleged murder in the capital, 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 21), 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 pulled up outside an Abrakebabra fast food outlet at the Crumlin Shopping Centre before he "made for Declan Gavin" with a knife.

Det. Sgt John Schley told Ms Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, he discovered a burnt-out Nissan Micra on the Old Cookstown Lane that lead into the back of Cookstown Industrial Estate, on the morning of August 25, 2001.

Earlier, Brendan Walsh, a paramedic who drove the ambulance to the scene of the fatal stabbing with his colleague Michael O’Reilly, told the court Declan Gavin was in a very bad way when he arrived at Abrakebabra.

Mr Walsh said: "I was directed to the back of the café and saw Declan Gavin lying on the ground and there was quite a lot of blood around him. He was a greyish-whitish colour and he didn’t look quite good, he was in a very bad way."

Mr Walsh told the court he radioed St James’ hospital ahead of his arrival, to put the staff on alert, because Declan Gavin was in such serious condition.

Lorraine Cassidy, a nurse at St James’ hospital, told the court she was part of the resuscitation team who had worked on Declan Gavin when he arrived at the A&E department at approximately 4am.

Ms Cassidy said Declan Gavin was extremely unwell and not conscious when he arrived at the hospital.

She said: "It was very obvious the patient had lost a lot of blood before coming to us and was still bleeding from the chest when he arrived, he was extremely unwell."

The trial continues before Mr Justice George Birmingham and a jury of eight men and four women.