HORROR AT BOXING CLUB
GARDAI HUNT KILLER AFTER MAN SHOT DEAD AND TWO ARE INJURED IN MORNING ATTACK ON B RAY GYM
A LOCAL man aged 50 was shot dead yesterday morning as he attended his morning workout at Bray Boxing Club.
Club owner Pete Taylor (57) and another man aged 35 were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds. Gardaí are searching for the killer. A van used in the attack was found in Dublin yesterday afternoon.
The deceased man had not been formally identified at the time of going to press but was identified locally as a father of three living in the town.
A MASKED gunman entered Bray Boxing Club before 7 a.m. yesterday morning and shot three men, killing one.
A local man, aged 50, died at the scene. Boxing club owner Pete Taylor (57) and a third man aged 35 were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds.
It is understood that Pete Taylor sustained a gunshot wound to the torso, while the other injured man was shot in the leg three times.
Speaking at the scene at the harbour in Bray yesterday, Superintendent Pat Ward of Bray Garda Station said it was just a normal day for those working out at the gym.
He said that the injuries sustained by the two surviving victims are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.
Deputy John Brady had spoken to some people who were present in the gym yesterday morning. ‘He just walked in, cool as anything,’ said Deputy Brady. ‘It could have been anyone.’
‘ There was about 15 or 20 people in the gym, and they were just about to start their session when a gunman came in carrying what we believe was a handgun and he started opening fire,’ said Supt Ward.
‘ The gunman left the scene in a silver Volkswagen Caddy with yellow northern Irish registration plates. We don’t know if he was accompanied by a driver, and went towards Bray town centre, possibly in the Seapoint Road in Bray, and there are possible sightings of that van in the Main Street and the Dublin Road in Bray.’
The van was later recovered in Dublin. Gardaí still need information on any sightings or movements.
The scene was being forensically examined by the garda technical bureau. The deceased man’s remains were removed at approximately 1 p.m. after the state pathologist Marie Cassidy attended the scene.
Supt Ward said that gardaí have not yet established a motive for the shooting and are investigating all possibilities. ‘We have no known motive at the moment for the crime, we don’t yet know why the crime was carried out,’ he said.
The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation are assisting local units in the investigation. Gardaí were yesterday carrying out house-to-house enquiries, with CCTV footage and witness interviews also forming part of their investigation.
Supt Ward urged anyone using the gym who may have seen any suspicious activity lately to come forward. He also asked that anyone with dashcam footage who was in Bray yesterday morning or around the same time on recent mornings to come forward.
‘ The gunman was wearing some sort of dark cover on his head, which may have been a balaclava or a helmet of some sort,’ said Supt Ward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bray Garda Station on 01 6665300.