GARDAI have begun a murder investigation in Dublin after the death of a man shot in the head in the city on Saturday afternoon.
Mr Tim Rattigan was shot once at close range by an unmasked gunman as he placed a bet in a bookmaker's shop on James's Street at 2.45 p.m. on Saturday.
The murder, witnessed by at least six people, was the first "ganglandstyle" killing in the city this year. It comes after a six month lull during which increased Garda activity was credited with ending the spate of similar shootings over the previous two years.
Mr Rattigan (49) was a minor figure in Dublin's criminal under world. Investigating officers said he had only been found guilty of minor offences, the last several years ago. More recently he appears to have been involved in a personal dispute with associates which may have led to the shooting. One of them was recently released from prison.
Mr Rattigan, a roofer who lived in Drimnagh, had been drinking in the Gate Inn in James's Street from about 12.30 p.m. He went next door to Jack Gamble's bookmaker's just after 2.30p.m. and was filling in a betting slip when a motorbike drew up.
The pillion passenger went inside, picked out Mr Rattigan and raised what witnesses said was a long barrelled, silvercoloured handgun. He shot his victim once in the back of the head, ran out of the shop and was driven away. Gardai later found the 750cc Yamaha motorbike abandoned in nearby Pimlico.
Mr Rattigan was rushed to St James's Hospital where he was placed on a life support machine. Family members were at his bedside when he died shortly after 4.30 p.m. yesterday.
The gunman was described as between 30 and 35 years, about 5'9", clean shaven, with tightly cut brown hair. He was of strong build and said to be of "scruffy" appearance. He was wearing light blue jeans and a light blue sweatshirt. His accomplice was wearing a new looking blue leather motorbike suit.
Mr Rattigan was well known in the area. Friends who placed flowers outside the betting shop after the shooting said he was liked for his sense of humour and was not known as a criminal.
"If there was a bad side to him, we certainly never saw it. Tim my would never have been involved in drugs or anything like that," said one.
"Timmy wasn't a criminal, he was a gentleman. He worked for a living," another said.