DATES HAVE been set for the hearings of separate inquests into three violent deaths, including that of car dealer Brian Downes, who was gunned down along with innocent bystander Edward Ward in 2007.
The inquest into Mr Downes’s death is expected to be heard together with that regarding the death of father-of-two Mr Ward (24), of Kilmahuddrick Road, Dublin 22.
Both men were shot dead in Walkinstown on October 5th.
Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty adjourned the inquest into Mr Downes’s death until a date in December following an application by Det Insp Brian Sutton of Crumlin Garda Station.
The inquest into the death of Charles Merriman, who died on March 23rd, 2003, in a gangland-style shooting will be heard next December, while an inquest into the fatal stabbing of John Cunningham (26) in an incident on November 4th, 2005, will be heard in October.
Separate Garda investigations into the deaths of Latvian mother- of-two Baiba Saulite and Martin “Marlo” Hyland are ongoing, Dublin County Coroner’s Court heard.
Detective Colm Fox of Blanchardstown Garda Station sought adjournments of both inquests under Section 25.1 of the Coroner’s Act 1962 which the coroner granted, adjourning the inquests until a date in December.
Marlo Hyland (39) was shot dead as he slept in the home of a relative in Scribblestown Park, Finglas, on Tuesday, December 12th, 2006.
Ms Saulite (28) of Holywell Square, Feltrim Road, Swords, was gunned down in her home on November 19th, 2006.
Her two young sons were asleep in the house at the time.
Meanwhile, a further two inquests into violent deaths were adjourned sine die, as persons have been charged in relation to the deaths and are currently before the courts.
Dara McCormack (21) was shot dead in Blanchardstown, Dublin, on February 11th, 2006, while mother-of-three Jean Gilbert was stabbed a number of times at her home on August 28th, 2007.