The father of a 26-year-old man, shot dead in a portacabin outside his home in 2002, has told the Dublin City Coroner's Court his son was not involved with drugs or crime.
Derek Lodge snr was giving evidence at the inquest of his son, also Derek, who was shot twice at close range by a lone gunman in a workshop outside his parents' house in Drimnagh in May 2002.
Six people were arrested in relation to the killing, but no charges were ever brought.
Mr Lodge told the inquest that on the fatal evening he was in his house in Kilworth Road, Drimnagh, watching television while his son, a self-employed mechanic, was in a portacabin he used as a workshop in front of the house.
He heard two loud bangs and looked out the window towards the portacabin, but saw nothing unusual. Minutes later there was knocking at his front door.
He answered the door and was told by neighbours that his son had been shot inside the portacabin. He went to the portacabin but was told by a neighbour to go back to the house and phone an ambulance.
The emergency service arrived within minutes he said but his son, who had been shot in the chest and thigh, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Lodge told the inquest yesterday that he had been very upset by media coverage after the killing which suggested his son was a drug dealer.
"From what I observed of my son, I had no reason to believe he had any involvement in dealing with drugs," he said.
