Bray Boxing Club murder accused in custody for five years, without new trial date

A man accused of murdering Bobby Messett and attempting to murder boxing coach Pete Taylor during a shooting at Bray Boxing Club in June 2018 has spent nearly five years in custody awaiting trial. Gerard Cervi, originally from Dublin, is charged in connection with the incident at the Bray Harbour premises in County Wicklow, where a gunman discharged nine shots during a strength and conditioning class. Cervi's initial trial at the Central Criminal Court collapsed in September 2021 after ten weeks when jury numbers fell below the required threshold due to illness. Since his arrest, he has remained in custody without a confirmed trial date, prompting his legal representatives to seek bail at the Court of Appeal in May 2023. The defence highlighted the exceptional length of his detention and referenced an anticipated Supreme Court ruling on mobile phone evidence as grounds for reconsidering his bail status. The State opposed release, presenting evidence that Cervi had purchased a one-way ticket to Malaga upon his arrest and had undertaken unexplained journeys to Spain following the shooting. These matters were cited as indicators of flight risk. Despite these objections, the three-judge Court of Appeal determined that the combination of prolonged custody and uncertainty surrounding trial arrangements warranted reconsideration of bail conditions. Mr Justice George Birmingham adjourned proceedings to allow further examination of Cervi's work history, travel patterns, and residential arrangements. The shooting at Bray Boxing Club resulted in the death of Messett, a 50-year-old man, and injuries to Taylor and another individual present during the incident. Witnesses described the gunman, who wore high-visibility clothing and a balaclava, scanning the gym between shots. Taylor sustained gunshot wounds to his chest and bicep and required hospital treatment and extended recovery. The case proceeded through the Central Criminal Court system, with subsequent developments determining Cervi's bail eligibility and establishing a fresh trial date, marking a significant progression in the protracted legal proceedings.