Courts / Dublin / Report

'Blood everywhere': child service worker tells of murder next door

Date
2021-03-02

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Lee Canavan (31) pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) and criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift at the Special Criminal Court. The prosecution alleges Mr. Canavan shot Mr. Douglas six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016, describing the incident as a meticulously planned assassination. Witness John Shaw, a worker at the adjacent 'Busy Bees' service, testified to hearing gunshots and finding Mr. Douglas on the floor with blood everywhere. Other witnesses described a man in black clothing fleeing into a dark grey Mercedes. Mr. Canavan denies the charges, while the state links him to two vehicles via fingerprint and DNA evidence. This is the fourth person charged in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley (22) pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones, receiving a six-year sentence. Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed for ten years in February 2020 for his role as getaway driver. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey, is expected to last four weeks and continues tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Blood everywhere': child service worker tells of murder next door. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Douglas (55), who was shot six times with injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow and jaw at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016; assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 1, 2016 Other
July 4, 2016 Other
July 1 Incident
February 2020 Incident
2021-03-02 Publication

Case subjects

Fat Freddie' Thompson

Convicted Person

Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Mr Douglas. In 2019, Nathan Foley (22) of Maryland, Dublin 8, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence.

Gareth Brophy

Convicted Person

Outcome: Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed in February 2020 for ten years by the Special Criminal Court for his role as getaway driver.

Lee Canavan

Accused

Charges: murdering Mr Douglas (55), who was shot six times with injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow and jaw at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016; assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Nathan Foley

Convicted Person

Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Nathan Foley (22) of Maryland, Dublin 8, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence. Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed in February 2020 for ten years by the Special Criminal Court for his role as getaway driver.