Last month boxing coach Pete Taylor was amongst three men shot during an incident at Bray Boxing Club. One of the men, Bobby Messett, died as a result of his injuries.
On the morning of June 5, a gunman fired shots inside the boxing club which Taylor operates from. It was reported in the aftermath that gardaí believe Taylor was the target. However, the 57-year-old has publicly stated he disagrees with this conclusion.
In an interview with Vincent Hogan of the Irish Independent, which Taylor requested, he explained that during the attack he was organising music for the morning fitness class. Taylor clarified that he sustained injuries after approaching the shooter: "I was probably in the safest place in the club because I was behind a big, steel cable machine. But I just ran across the gym at him and he shot at me twice."
I’ve never been involved in criminal activity. The guards have said it. They’ve got my phone going back to 2009, they’ve got my laptop, they’ve searched the club, gone through the GPS in my car. Like if I thought there was the tiniest danger to anyone in the club, do you think I’d have been turning up at quarter to seven every morning?
Heading down there in complete darkness in the winter? Leaving the door open during training? No cameras in the building? I had the exact same routine every day. If anybody was watching me, I was an open book.
Taylor has spoken to several media outlets this week in a bid to respond to the reports that emerged after the shooting. He also confirmed he is currently not working.
Separately, this month the family of victim Bobby Messett launched a petition to ensure the gym remain closed until the Garda investigation, which is ongoing, was complete.
This petition has been set up to keep Bray Boxing Club closed until the Garda Investigation is complete. This has been requested by the family of the late Bobby Messett, in the interest of public safety. Five weeks ago Bobby was murdered in Bray boxing gym. We know that he was not the target of this attack and until the Garda Investigation is completed we feel it is not a safe place for any member of the public to be at this time.
We feel it should be reopened after the investigation as it is a community facility, but for now we believe it is not safe. We started a paper petition but the power of social media is much stronger. We would appreciate any signatures.
