Katie’s dad ‘was shooting target’
Katie taylor’s dad injured as gunman opens fire at his gym Gardai probe if pete was real target after Bobby, 50, is killed
A PSYCHO who murdered an innocent man as he sprayed a gym with gunfire may have wanted to kill Katie Taylor’s dad Pete.
The Olympic legend’s father was blasted in the arm during the terrifying 7am attack at Bray Boxing Club in Co Wicklow yesterday.
Bobby Messett, a 50-year-old dad and grandfather, died when he opened the door to the gunman. Gardai are probing the theory Mr Taylor, 57, was targeted by someone holding a grudge.
AN innocent dad died instantly when he was shot between the eyes by a gunman intent on killing Olympic boxing trainer Pete Taylor.
The horrific attack just before 7am yesterday came as the dad of ring legend Katie was starting his “boot camp” at Bray Boxing Club in Co Wicklow.
A source said Mr Taylor was putting on music to begin the session when there was a knock on the door.
Bobby Messett, 50, answered and was gunned down by the masked killer.
As the firing continued, Ian Britton, 35, and 57-year-old Mr Taylor were also hit.
An off-duty firefighter suffered a head injury as he fled. One theory being explored is Mr Taylor was the intended target by a man with a grudge.
A source said: “Bobby was shot only because he answered the door.” Mr Taylor, who no longer trains his daughter, was then struck in the arm and the bullet travelled into his chest. He was saved by paramedics and is recovering in St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin, where he is awaiting surgery. Mr Britton suffered at least three gunshot wounds to the legs. He was also brought to St Vincent’s. The fireman was treated as walking wounded.
The gunman then fled in a Volkswagen Caddy van with Northern plates.
It was later found intact by gardai at Pigeon House Road, South Dublin. It is expected to yield significant DNA evidence. It is likely to have been picked up on traffic and CCTV cameras from Bray to Dublin.
A spokesman said: “It is believed this van travelled from Bray through Shankill and the Cornelscourt area before being abandoned on Pigeon House Road at approximately 8.05am where a male was seen leaving the van and cycling away.”
Mr Messett, a father and grandfather, was a well-known fitness enthusiast, who was also involved with Bray Wheelers Cycling Club. A witness, who did not want to be named, told the Irish Mirror of the moment he saw a man staggering from the gym.
He said: “It was chaos – everybody just ran to a beach. I heard shots, didn’t see a car.
“I saw this man stumbling out – he was lying at the edge of the bridge on his back. He was being treated. I heard screaming and shouting.
“I’ve never seen a guy shot before – the amount of blood was minimal but you could definitely see two holes.” At the scene, clothing and a bloodied
training shoe lay abandoned. Forensic experts carried out minute examinations and a divisional search team formed a line and combed the area with fingertip searches.
Mr Taylor’s Mustang car was parked outside the gym along with a second Audi with its licence plate covered by an evidence bag.
Supt Pat Ward, who is leading the investigation, said: “About 15 people in the gym were just about to start their session when somebody opened fire. people received gunshot wounds, unfortunately a 50-year-old man died at the scene.
“Two others were brought to hospital. The gunman fled and we believe he left in a silver Volkswagen Caddy – we don’t know if he was accompanied by a driver or anybody else with him.
“He [the gunman] was wearing some kind of head gear, that may have been dark in colour – a balaclava or helmet and could have been wearing a worker’s type hi-visibility vest. He drove towards Bray town centre, possibly on Seapoint Road in Bray.
“There are possible sightings on the main street, Dublin Road, Bray.
“He could have travelled that direction going from the gym here, Bray town centre and out to Dublin city centre.
“Our local units are being assisted by the NBCI and we are carrying out the normal investigative steps in an incident of this nature.”
“We are particularly interested in talking to anyone in this area – it is a leisure area. If they saw anything suspicious or in the last few days to come to us.
“Anyone in the gym this morning we need to talk to you.
We will talk to you in confidence. Anyone with dash cam footage along this route between 7am and 8am we’d like to speak to.”
The Irish Amateur
Boxing Association yesterday told of its horror. A statethree ment read: “We are horrified something like this could happen in a community sports club. Our thoughts are with those affected by this appalling event.”
In a heartbreaking post, Mr Messett’s friend Colm Mulligan from Glencormac United expressed his sympathies. He wrote: “Words here cannot convey how heartbroken everyone of us is at The Glens to lose one the most dedicated clubmen anyone could have. “Our prayers and hearts really go out to Natalie, Jackie, Gary, Bobby Jnr, Demileigh, Alex, brothers Jimmy and Glen, sister Paula, grandhildren, nieces, nephews and extended families at this sad time.”
Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O’callaghan said: “I urge anyone with information to bring it to the attention of the gardai immediately. I also wish those injured a full and quick recovery.”