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'A gentleman': Tributes paid to man shot dead in Bray Boxing Club

Bobby Messett was a fitness fanatic who was in the gym for training when he was shot dead yesterday morning.

TRIBUTES ARE BEING paid to a man who was killed in yesterday’s shooting in Bray Boxing Club in Co Wicklow.

Bobby Messett was a grandfather and fitness fanatic who was attending a training session when he was shot shortly before 7am yesterday morning.

Two other men were injured in the incident. One of them was Pete Taylor – the father and former trainer of Irish boxing champion Katie Taylor – who sustained injuries to his arm and chest. Another man was shot three times in the leg. Messett, who was 50, is believed by gardaí to be a completely innocent victim who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Early indications suggest this attack could be linked to a side business Taylor is a part of. Sources said that Taylor had fallen out with a local criminal who he had befriended in recent years.

There is no suggestion Pete Taylor is involved in any form of criminality.

There is also no suggestion that anyone present at the time of the shooting was, in any way, involved in any form of criminal activity.

In a tribute on the Glencormac United Facebook page, the PRO of the team Colm Mulligan said:

Bobby was an innocent victim in the shooting this morning at Bray Boxing Club and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Words here cannot convey how heartbroken everyone of us is at The Glens to lose one the most dedicated clubmen anyone could have but our prayers and hearts really go out to Natalie, Jackie, Garry, Bobby Jnr, Demi-leigh, Alex, brothers Jimmy & Glen, Sister Paula, Grandhildren, Nieces and Nephews and all the extended families at this sad time. Perhaps you could share a memory or picture here (and he left us with plenty) of great times spent with “Our Bob”
Bobby mate, we were so proud to have you as a friend these past 50 years, Rest in Peace “Oul Pal “

Another friend, Trevor Carr, said:

Bob you were brilliant at them all , looked up to you since I was 16 starting with the glens and u made all us young lads feel welcome from minute one, looked after us when things got rough and as one of the lads said today you were so good to our pal paddy

Mulligan told Morning Ireland that Messett was “one of the nicest, most easy-going chaps you could meet”. The pair had known each other for 45 years.

“As you can imagine, the little village of Kilmacanogue we are absolutely all devastated at this news today,” said Mulligan. He said he received a call yesterday morning about what had happened. According to Mulligan, Messett was involved in a number of sports and was a “fitness fanatic”.

Messett was a “gentleman” who doted on this grandchildren, said Mulligan.

“Bobby offended no one and just unfortunately he was the first person that [the shooter] came across [yesterday]. It is just so unfortunate, heartbreaking.”

Investigations continue into the incident.

Appeal

Gardaí are looking to trace the movements of a silver coloured Volkswagen Caddy van with Northern Irish registration which was used in the shooting.

It is believed that this van travelled from Bray through Shankill and the Cornelscourt area before being abandoned on Pigeon House Road at approximately 8.05am where a male was seen leaving the van and cycling away.

Gardaí are appealing:

  • To anyone who witnessed the movements of this van along the route travelled between 7am and 8am yesterday morning
  • To anyone with dash cam footage along this route between 7am and 8am
  • To anyone who witnessed the male cycling away from Pigeon House Road at approximately 8.05am

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    Mute Anthony Hilton
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    Aug 16th 2021, 3:40 PM

    When will people realise that the government don’t care about the people

    154
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    Mute Larsen Cib
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    Aug 16th 2021, 3:45 PM

    @Anthony Hilton: why not? Leonardo and Martin said thank you didnt they?
    Now you can store a big thank you in your fridge and pay for your transport to work.

    Just let them know that you are paying with the governments ” thank you “

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    Mute Colm OS
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    Aug 16th 2021, 4:52 PM

    Without doubt Healthcare workers deserve recognition and reward but it wasn’t just Healthcare workers who put themselves at risk. All the supermarket, pharmacy and non hse Healthcare staff (as a few examples) all took on risk which they deserve to be rewarded for

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    Mute Niamh Hughes
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    Aug 16th 2021, 11:57 PM

    @Colm OS: Dunnes stores employees got a 10% raise and a 20% discount card for their shopping. I stand to be corrected but I also think Tesco rewarded their employees too. Healthcare workers got a round of applause.

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    Mute John Fagan
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    Aug 16th 2021, 5:10 PM

    The problem with this is that if you give to one in the union, you have to give it to the lot of them. This includes managers who sat at home during the pandemic, administration staff who worked from home and people who just didn’t bother coming in because they didn’t want to catch covid. Plus the fact that every other public servant will want it. Who decides who deserves it?

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    Mute Niall Lee
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    Aug 16th 2021, 5:22 PM

    @John Fagan: every single one of them

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    Mute Garreth mc mahon
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    Aug 16th 2021, 3:51 PM

    These unions need separation from influence of government, if they are unhappy, go to LRC or labour court for each law broken if any. The days of ministers showing up at conventions also need to stop. The unions have never helped to fix the issues and it’s amazing how many pay rises fix the issues in the HSE

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Aug 16th 2021, 3:40 PM

    The demand doesn’t seem to be very clear. Are the unions looking for compensation for all workers in the health sector, front line workers or what exactly? How many staff are they seeking compensation for? The HSE employees about 70,000 alone, throw in all the voluntary hospitals, care workers…. They must be able to put a number on it.

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    Mute Derek Moean
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    Aug 16th 2021, 4:10 PM

    Leo will give them around of applause…

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Aug 16th 2021, 9:01 PM

    @Derek Moean: he’ll give them a pay rise, then claim he too is a Doctor and take said pay rise himself.

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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Aug 17th 2021, 12:34 PM

    TDs certainly don’t suffer hardships they’ve no problems robbing the taxpayers money to give themselves big rises

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