‘A pointless and cold blooded murder’
Thursday, 30 October 2008
A CORONER has ruled that the death of a Magherafelt man was a "pointless and cold blooded murder."
The inquest into the death of Mr Patrick Gerard Quinn was held at Magherafelt Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, October 28.
Mr Quinn, 32, from Kirk Avenue was shot nine times on September 29, 2000, in the Depot bar, while he was out drinking with friends. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
H.M Coroner Brian Sherrard concluded that Mr Quinn had died from gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Alistair Bentley stated that the majority of the shots fired were from close range. In his report he also pointed out that even with skilled immediate medical intervention Mr Quinn still would not have survived the attack.
Witnesses told the court two gunmen had entered the premises and immediately singled out Mr Quinn who had been returning from the toilet, and opened fire. They fled the scene in a light blue Ford Siera along Union Road in the direction of the hospital.
No organisation has claimed responsibility for the murder and no one has been held accountable as of yet, although it has long been suspected it was the work of a Provisional IRA death squad.
In the course of the inquest Coroner Sherrard interviewed several witnesses about events leading up to and involving the murder.
“It appears to me to be a pointless and cold blooded murder to a young man with three children he is responsible for," said Mr Sherrard, adding "It is not for anyone in our society to take the law into their own hands in this unconscionable manner.
“Unfortunately no one has been held accountable for this tragedy. It is the hope of all right minded people that this case is continued to be investigated.
“I appreciate the emotional ramifications of this murder will never end for the family. I pass on my heartfelt condolences to the extended family of Mr Quinn."
Mr Quinn's wife Geralyn told the court she knew of no reason why he had been targeted. Although estranged from her husband at the time she had talked to him the night of the shooting and said Mr Quinn 'appeared to be his usual self', he had never expressed any concerns to her about his personal safety and he was not taking any precautions that she knew off.
This view was echoed by his friend Colin 'Scooby' Riddell who also said Mr Quinn had never discussed being at risk from anyone.
Mr Riddell, who was at the bar with the deceased on the night in question, told the court how the two gunmen, with hoods up, came into the bar and shot Mr Quinn at point blank range.
“I heard the shots and turned around and saw the man, the taller one, with the gun to Paddy's head. I think the other man was at the door. I only saw the taller one shoot," said Mr Riddell
“I try to black it out," he said.
Mr Riddell chased one of the gunmen out of the bar with a stool and then returned to care for his friend. The police, who had been patrolling near the bar, arrived almost instantly on the scene of the carnage.
It is believed both gunmen were wearing wigs, with at least one of those wigs being left at the scene according to witnesses.
At the time of the murder it was rumoured that Mr Quinn had been targeted because of links to drug dealers - a claim that was strenuously denied by family and friends. Toxicology reports from the pathologist were clean of any drugs.
None of the police questioned at the inquest knew Mr Quinn through any criminal activities, with Sergeant Steven Kincaid saying "He was not known to me in any way."
The savage attack had stunned Magherafelt at the time, with councillors on both sides of the political divide joining together to condemn the murder.
Mid ULster MP Martin McGuinness said he deplored the shooting and said he "hoped that we had seen the end of such violent death".
South Antrim MP, the DUP's Reverend William McCrea joined the political condemnation of the attack.
“No-one has the right to take a gun up and end the life of someone else anywhere - never mind a public bar," he said.
The last person to give evidence at theinquest was Sergeant Deborah Caskey, who is part of the Retrospective Murder Revue Unit (RMRU).
She told the court that Mr Quinns murder was subject to review in the future and that there is the possibility of a new investigation into his murder. She also added that Mr Quinn's family would be kept informed of any changes in the status of their case.
The RMRU was set up in October 2007 to re-examine unsolved murders that occurred between the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on April 10 1998 and the establishment of PSNI's Crime Operations Branch on March 1 2004; and to re-examine unsolved murders not attributable to "The Troubles" that occurred between 1968 and the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on l0 April 1998.
Coroner Sherrard pleaded for anyone with information relating to the crime to come forward, so there could be justice for the Quinn family.
