Stabbing to the heart led to cardiac arrest, murder trial hears

A Dublin murder trial has heard that a stab victim arrived at hospital in cardiac arrest having received a penetrating wound to the heart.

Brian Rattigan (aged 28), Cooley Rd, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (aged 21) Mourne Rd, Driminagh, 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 Abrakebabra fast food outlet at the Crumlin shopping centre before he ‘’made for Declan Gavin’’ with a knife.

Dr Carmel Rush told Ms Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, she was working in the A&E department of St James’s hospital in the early hours of August 25, 2001.

Dr Rush told the court that when Declan Gavin arrived at the A&E department he was not breathing and was in cardiac arrest.

The jury heard that Mr Gavin had stab wounds to his chest and hands and was unresponsive to initial efforts to resuscitate him.

Dr Eilish McGovern, Consultant Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon at St James’s hospital, told Ms Walley SC she received an emergency call at 4.50am on August 25, 2001.

Dr McGovern told the court when she arrived at the operating theatre Mr Gavin was in cardiac arrest due to blood loss from a penetrating wound to the heart.

She said: "I identified a 3cm laceration in the heart and sutured it."

The court heard there was a lot of blood in Mr Gavin’s chest cavity and there was no resumption of cardiac rhythm or circulation.

Dr McGovern told the court that having consulted with the operating team she pronounced Declan Gavin dead at 5.30am.

The trial is expected to resume on Wednesday afternoon before Mr Justice George Birmingham and a jury of eight men and four women in the Central Criminal Court.