Murder victim lived in fear of gang, court hears
At a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court today a witness told that the victim had lived in fear of a gang called the "Morans".
Brother of the deceased, Mr Michael Griffin from Liffey Valley, Clondalkin was giving evidence in the trial of Shay Wildes (aged 36) from Corbally Park, Tallaght, who denies murdering Mr Declan Griffin (aged 32) from Coolock, in the Horse and Jockey pub, Inchicore on April 5, 2003.
Mr Michael Griffin said that on the day of the killing his brother asked him for €2,000 to help pay for protection from the Morans allegedly offered by Shay Wildes.
"He just didn't seem to be himself and the phone kept ringing," said Mr Michael Griffin. "I knew there was something going on."
Before leaving for a meeting in the Horse and Jockey pub with Mr Wildes and Sandro D'Ambrosio (aged 30) from Inchicore, who operated as a go-between, Mr Declan Griffin told his brother that he was "wary" of them.
Mr Griffin arrived in the pub around 6pm on the Saturday evening, and sat down with a 7-UP beside the two men. He handed over €5,000 to Mr Wildes; a third of the agreed fee of €15,000. It is the State's case that Mr Wildes then shot Mr Griffin.
A female employee of the Horse and Jockey pub who was present at the time also gave evidence today. She spoke of the "hysterical" reaction to the shooting.
Shortly before a family had just entered with a buggy. She described how most people headed for the back fire exit to vacate the premises, and that she pushed the bar to let them out.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White and the jury of six men and six women.
