Ireland

Katie Taylor's father injured as man shot dead in Bray boxing club

THE suspected getaway vehicle in the shooting dead of one man and injuring of two others at Bray Boxing Club has been found in Dublin.

Gardai said they have preserved a scene at Pigeon House Road in Dublin following the discovery.

A 50-year-old man was killed and two others - including the father of Olympic champion boxer Katie Taylor - were seriously injured in the early-morning gun attack.

Pete Taylor (57) was at Bray Boxing Club in Co Wicklow, about to start a session with up to 20 people shortly before 7am when the attack happened.

A 50-year-old man was killed and another man, aged 35, was injured, gardai said, in an attack which came "out of the blue".

A van with a Northern Ireland registration, used by the gunman, was later found in the Ringsend area of Dublin.

The club is where Taylor - Ireland's Olympic, European and World champion - began her career. She went on to win gold at London 2012.

The gym was established by Mr Taylor.

A gunman wearing a balaclava or helmet and armed with what police believe was a handgun entered the gym. One man died at the scene, Garda Superintendent Pat Ward said, and two others were hospitalised.

A forensics investigator on the harbour wall in Bray, Co Wicklow, near to the Bray Boxing Club where three people were shot this morning 
A forensics investigator on the harbour wall in Bray, Co Wicklow, near to the Bray Boxing Club where three people were shot this morning  A forensics investigator on the harbour wall in Bray, Co Wicklow, near to the Bray Boxing Club where three people were shot this morning 

He said: "We are not giving out full details of the injuries received - what we can say is they are not life threatening.

"They are very, very serious but they are not life threatening at the moment as we understand it."

The assailant may have been wearing a high visibility yellow jacket.

Mr Ward said detectives were still working to establish a motive, saying gardai were not sure whether the attack was targeted or indiscriminate. They were not aware of any pre-existing threats to any gym member.

Garda Armed support at the scene in Bray, Co Wicklow, following a shooting at a boxing club in The Harbour area of the town 
Garda Armed support at the scene in Bray, Co Wicklow, following a shooting at a boxing club in The Harbour area of the town  Garda Armed support at the scene in Bray, Co Wicklow, following a shooting at a boxing club in The Harbour area of the town 

Mr Ward said the dead man was attending a regular fitness session.

"This man was just using the gym like anyone else before he was unfortunately killed," he said.

He added: "It was a normal session on a normal day and it was being undertaken by people who normally undertake that session in the early hours of the morning.

"This came totally out of the blue - it was a normal day for all of those people in the gym."

He said it was unclear whether the gunman had an accomplice.

Forensic investigators at the Bray Boxing Club, Bray, Co Wicklow, where three people were shot this morning 
Forensic investigators at the Bray Boxing Club, Bray, Co Wicklow, where three people were shot this morning  Forensic investigators at the Bray Boxing Club, Bray, Co Wicklow, where three people were shot this morning 

"We know one person entered the gym and came out and made their getaway in that silver VW Caddy with a Northern Ireland registered number.

"We don't know if there was anyone else in that van with him. That's something that we are trying to find out."

Police believe the getaway vehicle drove towards Bray town centre and there have been several unconfirmed sightings.

The chairman of Bray Municipal Council, Chris Fox, confirmed that Mr Taylor was one of those shot.

Fellow councillor Michael O'Connor added: "Pete Taylor was shot."

The body of the man killed was removed from the boxing club at around 2pm and taken from the scene in a blacked out vehicle.

A technical examination of the area is being carried out by specialist officers.

It is located at the harbour in Bray town.

There was a heavy gardai presence at the scene on Tuesday as officers investigated the shooting.

Local Sinn Féin TD John Brady tweeted: "Absolutely shocking news coming from Bray Boxing Club this morning. Another dark day for Bray."

Health Minister, Simon Harris, who represents the constituency of Wicklow, tweeted: "Shocking news in Bray this morning. I have no doubt that the Gardai are doing all they can to apprehend those responsible."

Former world champion Brian Magee said he was "shocked" by the shooting of Pete Taylor, who he described as a "credit" to Irish boxing.

Mr Magee said: "Pete is such a nice guy, he's such a good reputation, he's such a fantastic trainer. He trained one of the best female fighters ever in the world.

"It's just hard to believe something like that happens."