Updated 13:20
Gangland criminal Brian Rattigan has been sentenced to nine years in prison for killing his former friend outside a fast food restaurant in Dublin.
20-year-old Declan Gavin was stabbed to death in Crumlin in 2001, which is believed to have sparked the Crumlin/Drimnagh feud that claimed 16 lives.
Declan was socialising outside Abrakebabra in Crumlin with a group of friends when a car pulled up.
Brian Rattigan got out of the car high on alcohol and drugs.
He started shouting and stabbed Declan twice.
Declan ran into the Abrakebabra and Rattigan tried to follow him - but the doorman managed to lock the door.
However one of the stab wounds had penetrated Declan’s heart.
He died, as the judge described it, ‘in the prime of his life’.
Rattigan was jailed on his second trial for murder, but the Supreme Court overturned that and he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
As he jailed him for nine years, the judge said Rattigan’s apology to the family was too little too late.
Speaking outside the court, Chief Superintendent Brian Sutton said the family is pleased with the outcome and are now happy to move on with their lives.
ChiefSuperintendent Brian Sutton says Declan Gavin’s family is happy Brian Rattigan has been jailed for 9 years for his killing. pic.twitter.com/n6TvKdt0Yh
— Stephanie Rohan (@StephGrogan3) January 24, 2019
Rattigan has been behind bars since 2003, and in 2013 he was convicted for the sale or supply of drugs within prison.
With remission, he had been due for release this November.
However, this manslaughter sentence is to run from late last year - meaning he shouldn’t be out until at least 2025.
