Murdered man's family says killers are threatening them

The family of a north Dublin man shot dead less than a year ago have said they have been subjected to a "campaign of intimidation…

The family of a north Dublin man shot dead less than a year ago have said they have been subjected to a "campaign of intimidation" by the men they believe killed their brother.

An inquest into the death of Lee Kinsella (30), of Ratoath Avenue, Finglas, was yesterday adjourned for seven months as "Garda inquiries are ongoing", Det Insp Brian Sherry of Blanchardstown station told Dublin County Coroner's Court.

Mr Kinsella's family repeated after the inquest their call for a meeting with Minster for Justice Michael McDowell to discuss gun and bail laws and "the intimidation we are suffering", according to Donna Kinsella, who identified her brother.

"We believe that the people responsible for Lee's death were out on bail at the time," Ms Kinsella said outside court.

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Mr Kinsella died when shots were fired through the window of his home on May 8th, 2006. He saved the life of his eight-year-old stepson, Ryan Royce, by throwing him behind a chair out of the line of fire.

Henry Kinsella said after the inquest that his car was recently burned out by the men he believes are responsible for his brother's death, and threats have been made against his life and the lives of other family members. "They are trying to get us to stop our campaign but we will not stop until they're behind bars."

Ms Kinsella said outside court that the family were still upset about not being informed by gardaí that the inquest was due to begin last week. "I made a complaint to the gardaí about it and they have apologised. We want to meet with McDowell now. People are being killed unnecessarily and he needs to address that."

She said Ryan had written a letter to Mr McDowell asking that he meet with the family. "He's still very traumatised after witnessing the murder. He's in counselling."

A postmortem by State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy found that Mr Kinsella died from "gunshot wounds to the abdomen and gunshot injury to the bowel". The court also heard that he sustained gunshot wounds to the arms and legs.

Coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty adjourned the inquest until October 9th.