Witness did not see who pulled trigger

THE CHIEF witness in a murder trial who saw the execution-style killing of his best friend has said he does not know who pulled the trigger.

Erol Ibrahim (20) was a passenger in the car when the driver, Frank Ryan, was shot dead by a man who was sitting in the back seat. Mr Ryan died just moments after he was shot twice through the head shortly after picking the gunman up near his home.

Gary Campion (25), of Pineview Gardens, Moyross, Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ryan (21) in Moyross on the evening of September 17th, 2006.

On the opening day of the trial on Wednesday, prosecution counsel Aileen Donnelly described Mr Ibrahim as a “direct witness” who would give evidence during the case.

Giving that evidence yesterday, Mr Ibrahim said he was 17 when his best friend was murdered.

Mr Ryan had picked him up earlier that day and they had gone to get food. He then dropped him off at a house in Delmege Park, Limerick, and picked him up again later that evening.

Shortly afterwards they gave a lift to another man who sat into the back seat.

When asked by Ms Donnelly if he recognised the man in question, Mr Ibrahim replied: “That person was not familiar to me.”

After travelling a short distance, Mr Ibrahim said Mr Ryan was shot dead in front of him. “There was a gunshot from the back of the car,” he recalled. When asked who had killed his friend, he replied: “I don’t know. I hadn’t seen him before.”

The jury was then discharged to allow for legal argument.

Two gardaí who had been first on the scene after the murder said they witnessed Mr Ibrahim beside Mr Ryan’s red Toyota Carina. Gda Angela O’Connor said Mr Ibrahim was wearing a green and white Celtic top which was “spattered with blood” and his was face was also blood-stained. When she attempted to speak to him, he did not reply. Gda David Boland said he witnessed Mr Ibrahim in a distressed state. “He was crying and his head was in his hands,” he said.

Dr Darragh Little, who examined the body of Mr Ryan, said it was clear the victim had no warning he was going to be killed as there was no sign of a struggle.

The trial continues.