The prisoner who died yesterday following a vicious beating had only been moved from another part of the jail after being assaulted two days before the fatal attack.
The Irish Mirror can reveal inmate Robert O’Connor had been targeted last Wednesday on the D Wing of Mountjoy Prison in Dublin. As a result, authorities moved him to the C Wing, where up to four thugs attacked him in a cell at around 6pm on Friday evening.
Gardai are now treating the investigation as a murder inquiry after O’Connor’s life support machine at the nearby Mater Hospital was switched off in the early hours of yesterday morning.
READ MORE: Mountjoy inmate who died in prison assault pictured as gardai probe murder
READ MORE: Victim of brutal Mountjoy Prison attack dies as Garda probe continues
His injuries were so severe – including a bleed on the brain after his head was repeatedly stamped on – that medics had admitted in recent days that he had no chance of survival.
Investigators are working on one theory that O’Connor’s brutal beating was ordered by a Kinahan assassin who believed his close relative had targeted him for a hit – and that O’Connor had agreed to carry it out.
But that supposed gun attack never came about.
The 34-year-old has been in prison custody since October serving time, first in Cloverhill, before being moved to Mountjoy in February. But he was handed down a six-and-a-half year sentence last Wednesday at the Criminal Courts of Justice for the possession of a loaded pistol.
Hours later he was assaulted in the lock-up on the D Wing, which led to him being moved to the C wing before the brutal attack on Friday.
A source said: “It has been established that this individual was assaulted on Wednesday in prison.
“It was a minor assault but staff there took the decision to move him.
“But then he was obviously attacked there on Friday in the most brutal manner which has led to his death.”
Another source said: “The attack lasted seconds but they did serious damage.
“And information has been received that one of the men danced on his body in celebration before fleeing the cell.”
Yesterday friends of O’Connor’s girlfriend took to social media to send their condolences.
One said: “My heart’s broken for you. You loved each other so much. I’m so sorry this is happening to you. RIP Robbie, you were a good one.”
Another wrote to his partner saying: “I’m thinking about you and saying prayers.
“And your friends I’m sure will be there for you. I’m sorry this happened to you – take care of yourselves. Sending lots of love to you. My heart goes out to you. Anything can do to help – don’t hesitate to contact us. Stay strong.”
Meanwhile, two separate investigations are now under way, one by prison authorities and the other by gardai, which will take priority.
Four prisoners are now being held in isolation after being identified as suspects and clothes believed to have been worn by them in the attack are undergoing forensic testing after being seized. Forensics on the landing and from inside the cell in which the attack occurred have been completed.
Among the suspects identified, one is linked to the Kinahan cartel and is serving a sentence for possession of a firearm which gardai believed was to be used to take out a Hutch gang associate. A second suspect is serving a lengthy sentence for an aggravated burglary.
Detectives from Mountjoy Garda station are investigating if a well-known Kinahan hitman sought approval from a more senior cartel member in the prison to orchestrate the attack on O’Connor.
He was seen speaking to a cartel lieutenant in the prison for a considerable amount of time in the days leading up to the beating. Officers are now working to establish if the hitman put together a gang to target O’Connor after getting approval.
His gripe is said to have come from his own relative believing that O’Connor was hired to kill him last year. But sources last night stressed that other lines of inquiry, such as a drug debt or another personal dispute, have not been ruled out either, and gardai are keeping an open mind.
In the meantime, a number of prisoners are being interviewed as officers try to establish the details of what exactly happened – but many are not co-operating over fears for their own safety. CCTV footage of the landing has also been examined, although there are no images from inside the prison cell.
A post mortem took place on O’Connor’s remains yesterday evening, the results of which were not released.
A Garda liaison officer has been appointed to the victim’s family.
A Garda spokesman added: “Investigations into this matter are ongoing.”
The Irish Prison Service confirmed the death of the inmate injured last Friday and said its own investigation was now taking place.
In a statement it added: “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
“The incident continues to be investigated by the IPS and the Garda. All deaths in custody are subject to investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.”
The murder victim, from Snowdrop Walk, Darndale, in North Dublin, had previous convictions include drugs offences, stealing cars, criminal damage, theft and road traffic offences.
His body will be released back to his family over the coming days before funeral arrangements will be made.
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