The inquest into an unsolved gangland style murder in Dundalk returned a verdict of unlawful killing yesterday. The coroner said it appeared to be a professional killing and the Garda investigation remains open.
Dundalk Coroner's Court heard that Richard McFerran (54) died from a single gunshot to the head in the early hours of August 16th, 1999.
McFerran, a wealthy plant hire businessman, originally from Newry, Co Down, was shot as he sat in the driver's seat of his Mercedes which was parked outside a Dundalk apartment where he was living at the time of his death. His body was found by a postman shortly after 8am.
The last time he was seen alive was some six hours earlier when he visited a local fast food take-away. Gardaí ruled out a subversive link early in the investigation and despite extensive inquiries no one has ever been prosecuted.
The inquest was reopened by coroner Ronan Maguire yesterday so that he could formally close it. The original inquest began in September 1999 and adjourned at the request of the Garda because the investigation was ongoing. However, if there was no prosecution, an inquest must be reopened and brought to a conclusion, he said.
The inquest heard yesterday that postman Sylvester Matthews was delivering to the Kilgar apartment complex on Jocelyn Street, Dundalk, when one of the residents pointed to the Mercedes car.
He went over and saw the driver with his right foot out of the car, but he was sitting upright with his head bowed. He saw blood on the right side of his face and he immediately rang the Garda and the ambulance service. He was identified as Mr McFerran. A postmortem by former State Pathologist Prof John Harbison concluded he died from concussion and laceration of the brain due to a single bullet wound to the head.
Mr Maguire advised the jury that in cases where the perpetrator was unknown and no one had been charged, that the appropriate verdict was unlawful killing. This was the verdict returned and the inquest was officially closed.