Irish boxing gym ‘heartbroken’ by fatal shooting

The boxing gym founded by Irish boxing champion Katie Taylor's father has said its members are heartbroken after a member was shot dead.

Fifty-year-old sports and keep-fit enthusiast Bobby Messit was killed in Tuesday morning’s gun attack at Bray Boxing Club in Co Wicklow.

Pete Taylor suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries and a third man was also hurt.

They were part of a group of around 20 people who were about to start a session at the gym when a gunman wearing a balaclava or helmet and a high visibility jacket burst in and opened fire shortly.

A statement from the boxing gym on Facebook said they would miss Mr Messit, a dedicated member for eight years, dearly.

The club was where Katie Taylor – an Olympic, European and world champion - began her career.

She went on to win gold at London 2012 with her father in her corner, but now works in the US under different management.

Gardaí said on Tuesday that they were still working to establish a motive for the “out of the blue” attack and that they were unaware of pre-existing threats to any gym member.

Mr Messett, a painter and decorator from Bray, was a member of local sporting clubs including Bray Wheelers Cycling Club and Glencormac United Football Club.

Colm Mulligan, senior manager at Glencormac, said he was “just one of the nicest, most easy going chaps you could ever meet”.