A man shot dead in a possible case of mistaken identity had swapped jackets with another person just before they left a pub, an inquest heard yesterday.
Dean Johnson, who was 21, was hit several times by two gunmen at Harelawn Green, Clondalkin, West Dublin, a short distance from his home shortly after midnight on August 24, 2013.
His mother Betty told Dublin District Coroner’s Court she understood one of the people with her son on the night had swapped their coat in The Finches in Clondalkin.
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Witness Joanna Murphy, who had been visiting her mother, told the inquest how she went outside after hearing noises which she initially thought were bangers and saw Mr Johnson being shot in the head.
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While she was attending to the deceased, she said another male came up to her and had remarked that “the shots were for him”.
Taxi driver David Ryan said he heard “popping noises” as he was driving his taxi on Neilstown Road before he saw two young men running on either side of the road.
He saw two figures near the pub firing guns towards the ground. One fired up to five rounds before stopping and firing several more shots, while his accomplice shot at least four times.
Mr Ryan, who called 999, claimed the attackers made sure their target was “not going to get up”.
The inquest heard Mr Johnson had been drinking since 11am and was refused entry to The Finches at 11.30pm.
His pal David Gilligan, who was inside, admitted he could not remember much as he was “so locked”, but said Mr Johnson and another person left for a club.
The witness said they started “legging” it after two men appeared behind them and a man in a balaclava pointed something at them.
Mr Gilligan said he heard shots as they were running and then realised Dean was not with them.
The victim’s older brother Andrew gave evidence of identifying his brother’s body at Tallaght Hospital and said he had last seen him a few days beforehand when he appeared happy and “full of energy”.
Detective Inspector Brian Hanley told the hearing the case remained open and he hoped there would be “further investigative opportunities”.
The inquest heard 10 people had been arrested and a file was sent to the DPP in 2016, who directed no charges should follow.
Det Insp Hanley said a second file was sent last year but had the same result.
A jury of five women and one man returned a verdict of unlawful killing by persons unknown.
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