Drug gang linked to Taylor gym murder
■ Katie’s father shot in boxing club bloodbath ■ Innocent dad of three killed in reckless attack ■ Shooter escaped in van and on bicycle
THE gunman who stormed Pete Taylor’s boxing gym, killing an innocent bystander and shooting the father of Olympic gold medal-winner Katie, is linked to a violent local drugs gang.
Mr Taylor was recovering in hospital last night following the ordeal, which happened before 7am at Bray Boxing Club.
But grandfather Bobby Messett (50) was shot in the head and fatally wounded during the crazed gun attack.
The murdered man was among around 20 people taking part in an early-morning fitness session at the gym when the gunman recklessly opened fire. Another local man – Ian Britton (35) – also suffered significant injuries after being shot in the legs.
The gunman escaped in a silver Volkswagen Caddy van, which was later found dumped, and then on a bicycle.
Detectives are probing whether the gun attack was linked to a dangerous local drugs gang, but stressed all three victims have no involvement in crime.
Katie’s mother Bridget said she had no idea why the gym would be targeted.
THE gunman who stormed Pete Taylor’s gym, killing an innocent man and shooting the father of Olympic gold medal-winner Katie, is linked to a violent local drugs gang.
Mr Taylor was recovering in hospital last night following the ordeal which happened before 7am at Bray Boxing Club.
But innocent grandfather Bobby Messett (50) was shot in the head and fatally wounded during the crazed gun attack.
It is understood tragic Mr Messett from Kilbride Grove in the town fell victim simply because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was struck when he looked out to see what was going on.
The murdered man, also a father-of-three, was among around 20 people taking part in an early morning fitness session at the gym when the gunman recklessly struck.
Mr Taylor was still being treated last night at St Vincent’s Hospital after he suffered injuries when a bullet exited his arm and entered his chest.
Another local man – Ian Britton (35) – also suffered significant injuries after being shot in the legs.
Detectives were last night probing whether the gun attack was linked to a dangerous local drugs gang, but stressed that all three victims have no involvement in crime.
“It is clear that a pretty bad dispute has broken out and that it has gone way too far. It is absolutely shocking,” a senior source said last night.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, the mother of boxing champion Katie Taylor, Bridget, said she had no idea why the gym would be targeted.
“We don’t know anything yet. The children are with Pete in hospital. We are all very distressed,” she said.
Bridget confirmed that her understanding was that Pete had been shot in the arm and the bullet had lodged in his chest, but that his injuries would not be life threatening.
“We’re glad he’s going to be okay, and we all love him,” she said.
Bridget said their hearts go out to the family of Bobby Messett. “I can’t imagine what they are going through. We are finding it hard enough here today but it is so much worse for his family, our hearts go out to them,” she said. She could think of no reason why the club or anyone in it would be targeted. “I have no idea. We’re all shocked,” she said.
Boxer Gary Cully, who has
‘It is clear a bad dispute has broken out and has gone too far’
won four professional fights with Pete Taylor in his corner, said on his social media page that he was in contact with his coach who was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital after the shooting incident. “Just spoke to Pete on the phone he’s doing fine, that’s all I know.”
Gardaí have not yet ruled out that the gun attack is linked to the deadly Hutch/Kinahan feud, but senior sources said that at this early stages it was “very unlikely” to be linked to gang warfare.
There had been speculation that Mr Taylor might have been targeted yesterday by the Hutch mob because he has been training three professional boxers signed to a gym linked to cartel boss Daniel Kinahan.
But it has been emphatically ruled out that Pete Taylor or any of the boxers he coaches are involved in organised crime.
It is understood that Mr Taylor coaches the MTK boxers for free and is not employed by them.
“A link to the Hutch gang is being investigated in relation to this gun attack, but at the moment it seems a very unlikely scenario,” a senior source said.
“This incident is much more likely to be linked to a dispute among criminals in the Bray area and the reality of what happened is that the gunman seems to have acted in a very amateur fashion when he carried out this attack.”
The gunman – who may have travelled alone – fled in a silver coloured Volkswagen Caddy with Northern Irish plates.
It was later found intact by gardaí at in the Pigeon House Road area of Ringsend at around 2pm. The gunman was seen cycling away from the getaway van on a push bike.
The gun used in the callous murder had yet to be found last night.