Bray boxing club shooting

53.20842°N 6.10288°W / 53.20842; -6.10288 The Bray boxing club shooting happened in Bray, Ireland on 5 June 2018.[1] Three men were shot, one died. One of the survivors was Pete Taylor, father of Katie Taylor.[2]

Shooting

At 6:55 am a man walked into the Bray Boxing Club just before a class started and fired a number of shots, killing Bobby Messett, injuring Pete Taylor in the arm and chest and Ian Britton in the legs.[1][3] There were 12 people in the gym including 1 minor at the time of the shooting.[3] Katie Taylor had previously trained in the club, but was no longer involved and was in the United States at the time.[1]

Pete Taylor and the other survivor of the shooting were taken to St. Vincent's University Hospital after being shot.[1]

Gardai were looking for a silver coloured Volkswagen Caddy after examining CCTV.[1] The van was thought to have travelled from Bray through Shankill, then abandoned on Pigeon House Road near Poolbeg Generating Station in Ringsend.[3]

Arrests and charges

Gerard Cervi, of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged at a special sitting of Bray District Court in September 2018.[2] The 31-year-old was originally from East Wall.[2] A woman in her 20s was arrested in relation to the case, but released without charge.[2]

Cervi was also charged with the attempted murders of Peter Taylor and Ian Britton in January 2019.[4][5] He was sent for trial in February 2019.[6]

Aftermath

Pete Taylor spoke of his distress in the aftermath of the shooting both at the event and at the death of his close friend Bobby Messett, who had joined the gym in 2010.[2] Petes' partner Karen Brown said on Instagram that she and Pete were relocating abroad after a "turbulent summer".[2]

Trials

First trial

On 28 June 2021 Gerard Cervi appeared at the Central Criminal Court.[7][8] He spoke only to confirm his name and to plead not guilty to the charge of murdering Bobby Messett on 18 June 2018 and to the charges of attempting to murder Pete Taylor and Ian Britton on the same date.[7][8] The trial was due to start on 29 June 2021 before Mr Justice Michael White.[7][8]

The trial began on the afternoon of 29 June 2021.[9] The prosecution stated that their case was that a single gunman had opened fire in the club and that the accused was said gunman.[9] Furtheremore, there were twelve people in the club and the three charges against him.[9] Motive did not have to be decided.[9]

In September the trial collapsed.[10] The trial was originally due to end in August, but the finish date was extended to September and two jurors asked to be discharged.[10] The remaining jurors agreed on 24 August to continue sitting until 22 October.[10] On 2 September nine members of the jury arrived in court and Mr Justice White said he was "sorry to hear about the illness to one of your number".[10] He said he hoped she would recover and adjourned the trial until 6 September.[10] On 6 September he said that the ill juror had to go back into hospital and although her illness was not life-threatening it was impossible for the trial to continue as they had fewer than ten jurors.[10] He thanked the nine for their jury service and discharged them.[10] He listed the case for mention before the Central Criminal Court on 11 October 2021.[10]

Retrial

In May 2023 the date of the retrial was set for 2 October 2023.[11]

The trial began on 4 October 2023.[12] Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.[12] The state argued that fingerprint and DNA evidence taken from the van allegedly used by the gunman linked it to Gerard Cervi.[12]

References
  1. Hennesy, Michelle (5 June 2018). "Boxing trainer Pete Taylor in serious condition after shooting at gym". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  2. Foy, Ken (12 September 2018). "Man (31) charged in connection with Bray boxing club murder". Irish Independent.
  3. Hennesy, Michelle; Finn, Christina; MacNamee, Garreth (5 June 2018). "Fatal victim of Bray shooting named as officers attempt to trace movements of killer". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. Tuite, Tom (17 January 2019). "Man charged with attempted murder of Pete Taylor at Bray boxing gym". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. Tuite, Tom (17 January 2020). "Man facing murder charge faces extra charge of attempting to murder Katie Taylor's father". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. Tuite, Tom (22 February 2019). "Man accused of Bray gym murder and attempted murder of Pete Taylor sent for trial". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  7. O'Riordan, Alison; Neilan, Paul (28 June 2021). "Man pleads not guilty to murder of Bobby Messett and attempted murder of boxing coach Pete Taylor and another man". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  8. "Man pleads not guilty to murder at Bray Boxing Club". RTÉ News. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  9. O'Riordan, Alison (29 June 2021). "Trial begins over Bray Boxing Club murder and attempted murder of Pete Taylor and one other". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  10. O'Riordan, Alison (6 September 2021). "Bray Boxing Club murder trial collapses due to juror becoming seriously ill". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  11. O'Riordan, Alison; Neilan, Paul (25 May 2023). "Trial date set for man accused of trying to murder boxing coach Pete Taylor, ending bail bid". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  12. Bourke, Stephen (4 October 2023). "Man goes on trial for murder of Bobby Messett at Bray Boxing Club in 2018". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
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