Daughter 'saw her dad gunned down in shop doorway'

Former zookeeper David Douglas was ‘shot dead’ outside the Dublin store owned by his wife Yumei

Louise Roseingrave

A dad was shot dead in the street in front of his daughter.

David Douglas (52) was gunned down and fatally wounded as he stood in a doorway, an inquest heard.

The former zookeeper, of Killalla Road, Cabra, Dublin, was outside his wife Yumei's shop when the shooting took place on July 1.

His daughter, Seoidi Douglas, who witnessed the incident, said in a statement that she rang 999 on the shop phone to try to get help.

Bang

"I knew he was shot because of the loud bang and because I saw him," Ms Douglas said.

"The man who works in the creche next door was there with me first and then the guards.

"I told the guards it was my dad who was shot," she added.

"He was lying on the floor inside the shop door.

"I told the guards my dad's name, David Douglas."

Family present in court for the opening of the hearing at Dublin Coroner's Court into the tragedy included his brother and a brother-in-law.

A post mortem examination by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy found the cause of death was gunshot wounds.

The shooting took place at the shop on Dublin's Bridgefoot Street at about 4pm. Mr Douglas was taken by ambulance to St James's Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Detective Inspector Paul Cleary, of Kevin Street Garda Station, said that criminal proceedings over the death have begun.

Det-Insp Cleary applied for an adjournment until after proceedings are complete and Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest.