PALM PRINTS belonging to a Dublin man accused of murder were found at the scene of a stabbing at an Abrakebabra fast-food outlet, 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.
It is the prosecution’s case that Mr Rattigan got out of a Nissan Micra outside the fast-food outlet at Crumlin Shopping Centre before he stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack.”
Det Garda Christopher O’Connor told the court that he has 14 years experience with the fingerprint section of the Garda Technical Bureau and that he attended the scene at Abrakebabra on August 25th, 2001.
He noticed “a mark in what appeared to be blood” on the exterior of the window to the left of the front door.
Det Garda O’Connor said he used a developing agent of grey powder to develop an area around the mark. The mark on the window was photographed by Det Garda Caroline Hughes.
Det Garda O’Connor said that he then compared this mark with a set of prints taken from Mr Rattigan on November 22nd, 2001, and “formed the opinion that the mark found on the window is the same as the set of prints bearing the name Brian Rattigan.” He said that he found “12 features of comparison” in both.
Det Garda O’Connor told the court that he also found a mark on the exterior of the door above the door handle, which he also compared with the prints taken from Mr Rattigan. He formed the opinion that the prints were the same.
Det Garda O’Connor told Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that he found 21 marks on the door and window. All prints except the two which matched the accused remain unidentified, he said.
The trial continues.