saw uniformed Garda Paul Lynch and another member, he fled on foot. Sharon Rattigan and Shay OâByrne were with Rattigan and physically blocked the Gardaà from arresting him. The pair were then arrested and charged with obstruction under Section 19 of the Public Order Act. Later that day Gardaà received information that Brian Rattigan was drinking in a pub on Jamesâs Street in Dublin 8. Joe OâHara arrested Rattigan on suspicion of Declan Gavinâs murder, and he was taken to Sundrive Road Garda Station, where he was photographed and fingerprinted.
Detective Sergeants Peter OâBoyle and Joe OâHara took Rattigan into the interview room. After being cautioned about his rights and speaking privately with his solicitor, the interview commenced. Rattigan told the detectives that he did nothing wrong, and that he used to eat in Abrakebabra but was not there on the night of the murder. He claimed that he was with a married woman at the time, but would not name her because he did not want her husband to find out. He refused to take part in an identity parade. He then quoted the Bob Dylan song âHurricaneâ about the black boxer Ruben Carter, who was wrongly convicted of murder in 1967 in New Jersey. The two hours of interview did not yield much, and Joe OâHara and Peter OâBoyle took a break. They were replaced by Detective Inspector Dominic Hayes and Detective Garda Marcus De Long from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a specialist unit that investigates serious crime and murders. Rattigan told the two officers that he couldnât remember where he was when the murder happened, and then said that he was with a married woman but would not name her.
He then changed his story and said he was at his brotherâs eighteenth birthday party for the whole night and never left it. He swore that he hadnât been near Abrakebabra for months. He was supremely confident throughout the period of questioning, until he was told that Gardaà had recovered his palm print from the window of the restaurant, and it was in Declan Gavinâs blood. The colour drained from Rattiganâs face at this point, and he quietly said that if this was the case then âitâs all overâ. The interview concluded shortly afterwards. Then Then Rattigan was visited by Dr James Maloney, in the presence of DS Joe OâHara. He was asked for his consent to provide a blood sample but he refused. He agreed to be examined by the doctor in private, and Joe OâHara took this time to speak with Detective Superintendent Denis Donegan, who authorised that a sample be taken from the prisoner under Section 2 (4) (a) of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Act) 1990. Rattigan again refused to comply. He then consulted privately with his solicitor by telephone, and was again asked for a sample, and again he refused.
He was returned to his cell without having given blood, and was given food and tea. He was then visited by an aunt for ten minutes. Around 9.00 p.m. Denis Donegan extended the period of Rattiganâs detention, and he was taken back into the interview room. DS Joe OâHara and DG Eamonn Maloney interviewed him for a period of nearly three hours. During this interview, Rattigan repeatedly said that he âdid not do anything wrongâ, and was definitely not in Abrakebabra on the night of the murder. He again refused to take part in an ID parade and said that Gardaà had planted his fingerprint. Again, he used the Ruben Carter example. When he was told that there were several witnesses who placed him at the murder scene, he said that when it came to the crunch they âwill never say itâ. He smiled at the Gardaà and told them to âProve it, thatâs your job.â At around midnight Dominic Hayes and Marcus De Long took over. Rattigan again declined to give a blood sample, but he did hand over a strand of hair voluntarily. He said he would wait to see what was
Detective Sergeants Peter OâBoyle and Joe OâHara took Rattigan into the interview room. After being cautioned about his rights and speaking privately with his solicitor, the interview commenced. Rattigan told the detectives that he did nothing wrong, and that he used to eat in Abrakebabra but was not there on the night of the murder. He claimed that he was with a married woman at the time, but would not name her because he did not want her husband to find out. He refused to take part in an identity parade. He then quoted the Bob Dylan song âHurricaneâ about the black boxer Ruben Carter, who was wrongly convicted of murder in 1967 in New Jersey. The two hours of interview did not yield much, and Joe OâHara and Peter OâBoyle took a break. They were replaced by Detective Inspector Dominic Hayes and Detective Garda Marcus De Long from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a specialist unit that investigates serious crime and murders. Rattigan told the two officers that he couldnât remember where he was when the murder happened, and then said that he was with a married woman but would not name her.
He then changed his story and said he was at his brotherâs eighteenth birthday party for the whole night and never left it. He swore that he hadnât been near Abrakebabra for months. He was supremely confident throughout the period of questioning, until he was told that Gardaà had recovered his palm print from the window of the restaurant, and it was in Declan Gavinâs blood. The colour drained from Rattiganâs face at this point, and he quietly said that if this was the case then âitâs all overâ. The interview concluded shortly afterwards. Then Then Rattigan was visited by Dr James Maloney, in the presence of DS Joe OâHara. He was asked for his consent to provide a blood sample but he refused. He agreed to be examined by the doctor in private, and Joe OâHara took this time to speak with Detective Superintendent Denis Donegan, who authorised that a sample be taken from the prisoner under Section 2 (4) (a) of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Act) 1990. Rattigan again refused to comply. He then consulted privately with his solicitor by telephone, and was again asked for a sample, and again he refused.
He was returned to his cell without having given blood, and was given food and tea. He was then visited by an aunt for ten minutes. Around 9.00 p.m. Denis Donegan extended the period of Rattiganâs detention, and he was taken back into the interview room. DS Joe OâHara and DG Eamonn Maloney interviewed him for a period of nearly three hours. During this interview, Rattigan repeatedly said that he âdid not do anything wrongâ, and was definitely not in Abrakebabra on the night of the murder. He again refused to take part in an ID parade and said that Gardaà had planted his fingerprint. Again, he used the Ruben Carter example. When he was told that there were several witnesses who placed him at the murder scene, he said that when it came to the crunch they âwill never say itâ. He smiled at the Gardaà and told them to âProve it, thatâs your job.â At around midnight Dominic Hayes and Marcus De Long took over. Rattigan again declined to give a blood sample, but he did hand over a strand of hair voluntarily. He said he would wait to see what was
Similar Books
