A DUBLIN man who fled to Turkey after accidentally shooting dead a father of two during a confrontation sparked by a fight at a Christening is to be sentenced at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin tomorrow.
Robert Egan told gardaí that he “did not mean to shoot dead” Wayne Doherty but meant to shoot another man, Robert “Bobby” Hughes, in the legs.
Mr Doherty (32), a bread delivery man, was shot outside his parents’ home after he attempted to stop a dispute involving his friends and a group of men late on the night of July 4th, 2009.
Egan (27), Dromheath Avenue, Mulhuddart, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Doherty at Oakview Way, Hartstown, on July 5th, 2009, but pleaded guilty on the third day of the trial to his manslaughter.
Det Garda Sgt Dan O’Callaghan told Paul Coffey SC, prosecuting, that a Christening party had taken place earlier in the day at a public house in Clonee. Andrew Jameson, a friend of Egan and Mr Hughes, a neighbour of Mr Doherty, were involved in a minor altercation at the party.
The altercation continued outside the pub and Mr Jameson got into a car driven by Egan and threw a pint glass at Mr Hughes.
Various phone calls were made by Mr Hughes to Mr Jameson demanding “a straightener” at Oakview Way that evening to resolve the dispute and “each side marshalled their forces”, according to Det Sgt O’Callaghan.
Mr Hughes arrived at the scene with his friend Eric O’Callaghan and Mr Doherty and his brother David Doherty.
Egan drove up and approached the group carrying a loaded sawn-off shotgun while a group of men followed from behind.
Egan had told gardaí during interviews that he had arrived at the scene with the loaded gun with the intention of “shooting Hughes in the leg”.
Witnesses told gardaí that Mr Doherty had approached Egan and shouted at him to “go home” and pleaded with him to put the gun away. Mr Doherty sought to wrestle the gun from Egan and in doing so, two shots were discharged accidentally.
Michael O’Higgins SC, defending, said Egan’s brother Jason Egan had been shot seven times in the back and killed by the IRA, which gardaí believe was in retaliation for the death of Mr Doherty.