Gangland figure Rattigan loses murder appeal

Criminal gangland figure Brian Rattigan has lost his appeal against his conviction for the murder of a man more than 11 years ago.

Rattigan, with an address at Cooley Road in Drimnagh, Dublin, was found guilty of stabbing Declan Gavin (21) outside Abrakebabra in Crumlin Shopping Centre, Dublin, on August 25th, 2001.

He was jailed for life in 2009 after a majority jury convicted him of murder.

Last week the non-jury Special Criminal Court found him guilty of organising a €1 million heroin deal from the prison cell where he is serving the life sentence. Yesterday the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed a separate appeal it heard last year in relation to the murder.

Rattigan had raised issues arising from section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. It allows the prosecution submit as evidence statements given to gardaí by witnesses who, while available for cross-examination, subsequently refuse to give evidence to a court, deny making the statements or give evidence inconsistent with the statements. His lawyers argued it was unfair to apply this law retrospectively and claimed this violated his constitutional rights.