A man was shot dead in front of his 12-year-old son as they walked home, an inquest has heard.
Declan O'Reilly (32) from Parnell Road in Crumlin, Dublin 12, was killed on the South Circular Road, Dublin, on the evening of September 24th, 2012. At Dublin Coroner's Court, coroner Dr Brian Farrell said it was a "particularly cruel and really appalling shooting".
Gardaí told the jury that O’Reilly, who had previously been acquitted of murdering a fellow inmate in Mountjoy Prison, was not in fear for his life at the time of the shooting.
The inquest heard that when he was shot, O’Reilly was on the phone with Moyra O’Neill, a member of the Rialto community drug team. He had been released from prison earlier in the year and had contacted her with a view to making a plan to come off drugs.
Phonecall
“He wanted to go to college, to get an education. He talked about Stuart (his son) all the time,” said Ms O’Neill. She was discussing a computer course with him when she heard him curse at someone and the phone became muffled. “I said ‘Declan are you there?’ And then I heard him say ‘Stuart, get an ambulance’”.
Garda Niall Godfrey said when he spoke to Stuart, the boy told him he and his father were on their way to let off fireworks.
The post-mortem found O’Reilly had 11 entry and exit wounds.
A stolen BMW found on fire after the incident had a gun in the passenger seat. Detective Inspector Sean Campbell said the gun was connected to the shooting. The investigation is ongoing.
The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by persons unknown.