Dublin gunshot victim identified by fingerprints

A 35-year-old man shot dead in a pub on Dublin's north side had to be formally identified using fingerprints. An inquest opened into the death of Michael Barr of Premier Square, Finglas Road, Dublin 11, heard he died of multiple gunshot wounds. Mr Barr was shot in the Sunset House pub on Summerhill Parade, Ballybough, Dublin 1, on April 25th last.

The Dublin Coroner’s Court heard that fingerprints taken from Mr Barr’s remains matched a set acquired by gardaí in 2014. Garda Colin Lawlor of the fingerprints section at the Garda Technical Bureau said in his deposition that he arrived at the Sunset Pub on April 26th with a number of other gardaí and detectives. Inside, he saw the body of a male lying face up on the floor. He scanned the front and back entrances to the Sunset House pub for fingerprints. He scanned the prints taken from the deceased man’s remains and found a match for a set taken by gardaí in 2014, resulting in a positive formal identification.

“I relayed this information to the team based at Dublin city morgue,” Garda Lawlor said.

An autopsy carried out by assistant state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis found the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds. Mr Barr's uncle and his partner were present in court for the short inquest hearing.

Originally from Strabane in Co Tyrone, Mr Barr had a partner and young family. He was charged with IRA membership by An Garda Síochána in 2014.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane was told that criminal proceedings in relation to his death have commenced and are currently before the courts. Two men were charged in relation to the death of Mr Barr last May. The court heard that no trial dates have been set and it is not known how long court proceedings will take. Dr Cullinane adjourned the inquest until criminal proceedings have been completed.