Drive-by shooting victim gives evidence
The victim of a drive-by shooting in a travellers halting site called the Gardaí and told his wife and children to stay down in their caravan moments before a car drove into the park opening fire, a court has heard.
Giving evidence in the Central Criminal Court today, John Gavin said he saw Patrick McDonagh (aged 42) driving the silver car and Martin McDonagh (aged 31) in the passenger seat with the gun.
He admitted he may have been mistaken about the car’s number plate confusing an H with an N.
The McDonagh’s, of Dunsink Lane, Finglas, Dublin, are charged with the attempted murder of John Gavin, Robert Gavin and Patrick Gavin at St Dominic’s Park, Belcamp Lane, Coolock on New Year’s Day 2005.
They have also pleaded not guilty to possession of a shotgun, and recklessly or intentionally causing harm to Robert Gavin.
Justice Paul Carney and the jury of nine men and three women heard yesterday the families had been involved in a feud regarding a damaged caravan.
Martin Gavin, the Gavin family spokesman had his caravan damaged and wanted payment or a fair fist fight to settle the matter, John Gavin said.
John Gavin told Patrick McDonagh’s defence counsel, Mr Paul Burns SC yesterday, fist fights were often how travellers settled things.
Earlier that morning Mr Gavin said he had overheard the conversation between Patrick McDonagh and his cousin Martin Gavin and returned to his caravan to call the Gardaí for help.
Patrick McDonagh had told Martin Gavin while he did not want trouble, but there were 300 McDonagh’s up the way who might be trouble.
John Gavin went back to his caravan and told his wife to keep the kids down and he called the Gardaí.
Then the silver car returned, Mr Gavin said.
"I heard Patrick McDonagh says: ‘Well boys?’," Mr Gavin said yesterday. "Then I looked down and I seen Martin (McDonagh) coming out with a gun."
"As I run from the scene a bang come and I got stings in my back."
He was shot in the back, Patrick Gavin was shot in the stomach and Robert Gavin was shot in the face, the court heard.
The trial continues today.
