Tailed on his round and then shot dead
Inquest told of window cleaner killing
A WINDOW cleaner shot dead while cycling to work had been followed on his route the previous day, an inquest heard yesterday.
John O’regan was blasted by a gunman shortly after leaving his home in Barnewall Gardens, Ballymun, North Dublin.
The 48-year-old victim headed off shortly after 8.30am on April 15, 2014.
He rounded the corner to Gateway Avenue where he was shot by a gunman also travelling by bicycle.
Witness Brendan Connaughton was working at a local primary school when he heard five to six shots ring out.
The labourer said: “They were loud bangs. Like caps going off.”
He heard screaming and saw a man cycling slowly towards Ballymun Road.
Mr Connaughton added: “I saw him put what looked like a silver gun inside his jacket. He was cycling slowly as if nothing had happened, as if he had done nothing wrong.”
Dublin Coroner’s Court heard no motive has been established and the killing remains unsolved.
The man’s long-term partner Jackie Hogg said before he left the house that had morning Mr O’regan told her about the sudden death of a neighbour.
She said: “He [Mr O’regan] had worked in security and after that he took up odd jobs and window cleaning.
“John came in and told me about the neighbour who had died.
“He was shocked. He said, ‘You never know what’s going to happen’.”
Ms Hogg added her partner left the house saying he wouldn’t be long. Minutes later she got a call from her son who heard someone had been shot.
Gardai were alerted at 8.43am. An officer arrived at the scene four minutes later and said Mr O’regan had no pulse and was not breathing.
He was rushed to the Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9.25am. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
Supt Colm Fox said a murder probe was launched with 277 lines of inquiry and 135 witness statements taken.
He told the inquest: “No definitive motive was established.”
CCTV footage revealed Mr O’regan had been followed on his bicycle the previous day. The file remains open.
The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by a person or persons unknown. Mr O’regan, 48
DUBLIN CORONER’S COURT
I saw man put what looked like a silver gun inside his jacket BRENDAN CONNAUGHTON