A BURNT-OUT Nissan Micra was found in the Cookstown Industrial Estate area the morning after an alleged murder in Crumlin, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.
Brian Rattigan (28), Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (21), Mourne Road, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on August 25th, 2001.
The prosecution claim that Mr Rattigan got out of a silver 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”.
Sgt Gavin Ross told Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, that he found a burnt-out silver Nissan Micra in the Cookstown Industrial Estate area on the morning of August 25th, 2001.
Earlier, Det Sgt Séamus Quinn, from the ballistics section of the Garda Technical Bureau, told Ms Walley that he attended the scene outside Abrakebabra on August 25th, 2001.
Det Sgt Quinn said he found a “trail of blood” that started from the bus stop on the road outside Abrakebabra, down a set of steps toward Abrakebabra’s front door, and from the front door into the restaurant.
Det Sgt Quinn said that he took samples of blood from Abrakebabra’s door, from the floor inside the restaurant and from the window to the left of the front door. He took these samples to the forensics lab of the Garda Technical Bureau on August 27th, 2001.
John Farrell told the court that he went to Abrakebabra on the night of the alleged murder.
He saw a car parked on the side of the road.
There were “probably people getting out” of the car, he said.
“A fight started, I think. There were loads of people there just fighting. That’s all I can remember of it, people fighting.
“As I remember, somebody got stabbed.”
Mr Farrell said that he could not recall how the assailant left the scene. “I was watching but it happened so fast I can’t really recall what he done.
“I can’t recall how he left. I was leaving myself. Everyone was panicking. So I just can’t recall how he left.”
Edward Comyn SC, prosecuting, asked: “Did you remember at the time?”
Mr Farrell replied: “I probably did at the time, but a lot of time has passed and I can’t remember.”
The trial continues.