Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Kieran did not deserve to die.. it was a pack of cowards who shot him
Mum’s pain as inquest told of pizza delivery driver’s murder
We will get justice, we’re not going to give up. He was a gentleman SALLY MCMANUS BELFAST YESTERDAY
THE mother of a pizza delivery driver who was shot dead has vowed to fight on for justice. Sally Mcmanus appealed for help convicting the “cowards” that murdered her son Kieran following his inquest yesterday.
The father of one from West Belfast was attacked by a masked gunman outside Domino’s pizza restaurant at Kennedy Way as he was placing a delivery in the back of his car.
No one has been convicted of the killing on March 30, 2013. Outlining his findings at Belfast Coroners Court, Patrick Mcgurgan ruled the 26-year-old died rapidly from two blasts fired at his back from close range.
Police believe the shooting, carried out with a sawn-off shotgun, was linked to a longrunning violent feud in the west of the city dating back to 2010. During the inquest proceedings, a man considered a suspect in the murder refused to give evidence when called as a witness. Outside the court, Ms Mcmanus paid tribute to her son.
She said: “I am just glad the inquest is over and I would like, if anybody has any information out there, to come forward.
“We will get justice for him. We’re not going to give up on him.
“He was always a gentleman, he didn’t deserve to die. It was just a pack of cowards that done it. They couldn’t face him, that’s why they shot him in the back.” Ms Mcmanus revealed her 12-year-old grandson remains traumatised by his father’s murder.
She added: “He’s still fretting and terrible, it’s messed his whole head up.
“He’s afraid of people trying to grab him because he belongs to Kieran.”
Three teenagers, including the victim’s half-brother, were in the car when the shooting happened.
Noting the impact the incident had on them, the coroner predicted the men would be “marked and traumatised” for the rest of their lives.
He praised what he described as an “extensive” murder investigation by police and made his own appeal for anyone with information to come forward. Mr Mcgurgan said the proceedings had aimed to be of help to relatives. Addressing Ms Mcmanus, he added: “I do hope it has been of some benefit to you and your family to have heard the inquest and this evidence in public.
“It has perhaps brought some degree of closure, though I appreciate that will never be the case as a family.”