Courts / Wicklow / Report

Pete Taylor ran towards gunman to protect class, eyewitness tells trial

Summary

During a fitness class at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, a gunman entered the gym and fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol. The attacker killed boxing coach Bobby Messett in the head and wounded trainer Pete Taylor and gym‑goer Ian Britton. Witness Stephen Kearns described the gunman as wearing a high‑vis jacket and a hard hat, holding a handgun with both hands. Taylor ran toward the gunman, put his elbow up, fell over a bench and was hit. Britton, who was on the first floor with his brothers, was shot in the hip and later described the gunman as a slender, slightly built man who seemed unsure of what he was doing. The trial is ongoing, with the State alleging that Gerard Cervi was the gunman and that he intended to commit murder. The case is before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pete Taylor ran towards gunman to protect class, eyewitness tells trial. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Messett (50) at Bray Boxing Club, Bray Harbour, Bray, Co Wicklow on June 5, 2018. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 5, 2018 Other
• June 5 Incident
• 2021-07-02 Publication

Why: "Because of what happened I never went back to the fire brigade," he said. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report