Prime suspect in fatal shooting was killed later, inquest told

The prime suspect in the 2010 murder of a man who was gunned down at work was himself murdered a month later, an inquest heard.

Colm Owens (34), a father of one, from Dunsoughly Avenue in Finglas, Dublin 11, was shot dead at the Corn Store shop in the Grove Industrial Estate, Finglas, on July 9th, 2010. He was killed instantly when the gunman fired bullets into his head and heart.

Mr Owens had no convictions for serious crime but was a known associate of some of the capital's most high-profile criminals, including slain gang boss Eamon Dunne.

His brother Robert Owens told Dublin Coroner's Court that he last saw the victim five days previously at their mother's house. Asked by coroner Dr Brian Farrell whether his brother was in fear for his life, Mr Owens said he wasn't aware of anything at the time. "He seemed in very good spirits," he said.

Mr Owens had been working at the Corn Store since it opened at the start of the year. On the day of his death, he rang his boss at 11.55am looking to get more horse feed for the shop. He did not mention any worries for his own safety, the court heard.

Pigeon-racer Tommy Kane was in the store when Mr Owens was shot shortly after midday. He told the inquest that Mr Owens had gone out the back to make a cup of tea for them when a tall, well-built man dressed all in black and wearing a ski-mask came into the shop.

“He walked passed me and in behind the counter and, as he passed, he took a hand gun, black in colour, from his left pocket,” he said, “This guy went into the room where Collie was. Then I heard four bangs which I knew were shots. I panicked and ran out the front door and turned left toward the end of the factory.”

As he ran, Mr Kane saw a man in a silver car parked outside, faced toward the exit and “ready to go”. He was trapped in a cul-de-sac when he saw the gunman walk out of the Corn Store and get into the car before it sped off. Two men who worked nearby then went into the shop to check on Mr Owens.

“The chaps came out and one said: ‘They blew his head off’,” said Mr Kane.

There were no signs of life when paramedics attended the scene. The postmortem was carried out by State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy, who found gunshot wounds to the head, neck and heart which would have resulted in immediate death. Mr Owens was shot six times in the attack.

Det Insp Colm Murphy told the inquest the investigation remains open, but that “the prime suspect in this case was murdered a month later”. The silver car, which was stolen, was found on a Finglas housing estate and attempts had been made to burn it out. The firearm was never recovered.

The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by persons unknown.