A front-seat passenger in a stolen car died when a shotgun he was carrying accidentally went off when the vehicle went over a speed ramp, an inquest heard yesterday.
A jury at Dublin County Coroner's Court returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
Victor Murphy (30), Deanstown Green, Finglas, was travelling through Avila Park halting site, in Cappagh, Finglas, early on July 9th, 2003, when his sawn-off shotgun went off accidentally, the court heard.
Det Garda Bernard Sherry of Blanchardstown Garda station told the inquest that Mr Murphy's gun accidentally discharged itself when he was travelling over a speed ramp in the halting site at the top of Cappagh Road.
State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy told the inquest she was satisfied there was no third-party involvement in the shooting.
She said Mr Murphy's death was due to haemorrhage and brain damage due to a single shotgun wound to the head.
Det Garda Sherry said that on occasions people sawed off shotguns too short which interfered with the mechanism of the gun and made them very easy to discharge.
He said that this was what happened in this case.
The inquest heard that Mr Murphy was the front passenger in a white Mitsubishi Lancer car, which was stolen on Dublin's North Circular Road.
A number of people living in the halting site heard the gunshot, but refused to involve themselves in the investigation because they were fearful for their safety.
The only other person in the car at the time was the driver, who is now dead, said Det Garda Sherry.
Det Garda Sherry said the driver then drove the car to Dunsink Lane and deposited Mr Murphy's body there, where it was discovered by Wayne Derham, driving home from Dublin airport, after 5pm.
The white Lancer was subsequently discovered abandoned at Berryfield Road with extensive bloodstaining, which was later forensically linked to Mr Murphy.