A father of one who was shot dead as he pushed a pram containing his four-month-old son was warned by a drug dealer: "I'm on your case mate, it won't be long" and later "soon, very soon, bang bang," a barrister has told the Central Criminal Court.
On Wednesday, Bernard Condon SC opened the trial of Wayne Cooney, who denies murdering Jordan Davis in Dublin almost three years ago.
Mr Condon told the jury of eight men and four women that the trial involves "particularly callous acts of violence and brutality against a fellow citizen of this city".
He said the killing, in broad daylight and in front of people going about their daily business, was caught on CCTV, showing Mr Davis wheeling a pram before he was shot "repeatedly by the person who the prosecution says was Wayne Cooney".
There will be evidence that Mr Davis was a drug dealer but, Mr Condon said, this does not reduce his entitlement for respect to his right to life.
Semi-automatic pistol
Mr Cooney (31), with an address at Glenshane Drive in Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jordan Davis (22) at a lane-way beside Our Lady of Immaculate National School in Darndale, Dublin on May 22nd, 2019.
He also pleaded not guilty to possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and to possessing ammunition in circumstances that give rise to the reasonable inference that he did not have them for lawful purposes.
Mr Condon said the accused knew the drug-dealer, referred to only as CD due to a court order, who threatened Mr Davis because Mr Cooney was going out with CD's sister. CD had been involved in the "drugs business" with Mr Davis, counsel said, but they fell out.
After Mr Davis's death, gardaí looked at the deceased's phone and discovered messages from a phone associated with CD referring to a debt owed by Mr Davis of €17,000 and warning him: "I'm on your case mate, it won't be long". The messages added: "Soon, very soon, bang bang."
Mr Condon said the jury will be invited to infer that this was a death threat.
On the day of the shooting and the two days prior, locals in Darndale noticed a person on a bicycle who, Mr Condon said, was identified on CCTV footage by a garda as Mr Cooney.
Shortly after the shooting this person was seen walking towards a bus stop where he was picked up by a car in which CD's sister, referred to as AF, was a passenger.
Counsel said the driver of the car was directed to the bus stop by AF and then to AF's home where Mr Cooney and AF got out.
Later that night, AF made a reservation for two people at the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport. Gardaí would again identify Mr Cooney at the Clayton Hotel from CCTV footage, counsel said.
Mr Condon said the prosecution would also be relying on DNA evidence which he said will link Mr Cooney to gloves found near the scene of the shooting. The gloves, Mr Condon said, also contained firearm residue.
The trial continues on Thursday in front of the jury and Mr Justice Tony Hunt. It is expected to last up to four weeks.
