Murdered prisoner Robert O’Connor had his shorts pulled down to his ankles by a gang which sought to “humiliate” him during the attack.
We can today reveal the full horrific details surrounding the brutal killing of Mr O’Connor - while the four suspects remain on lockdown in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison - and not yet under arrest - over a month on from the attack.
Sources have also revealed that gardai now have established the suspected motive for the assault- with it all stemming from a female associate of Mr O’Connor being assaulted with an iron bar outside of prison months before.
Officers believe O’Connor, 34, who was serving a sentence for possession of a firearm, ordered an attack on a prisoner who he felt was responsible for the assault on his female associate.
Following that incident a revenge attack on O’Connor was planned - and this eventually led to the shocking incident on the evening of Friday, July 29.
Gardai now believe that Mr O’Connor was kicked to death - with one of the four men stamping on his head during the ordeal - which is believed to have lasted mere seconds.
Sources say prison staff acted “within five seconds” after witnessing four prisoners, including a notorious member of the Kinahan cartel following O’Connor into a cell on the C2 landing - where he had been lured just moments before.
As a brave prison officer attempted to intervene, he was met with aggression from one of the gang - who was eventually forcibly removed from the cell.
O’Connor was discovered by shocked staff lying on the ground in a pool of blood with his eyes open - and his shorts pulled down to his ankles.
“It’s believed they tried to humiliate him,” a source said. They didn’t intend for him to die, but rather to give him a hiding and leave him there with his pants down.”
Sources say prison officers discovered O’Connor in this state - and his shorts were pulled back up - while medical personnel rushed to the cell.
As medical staff battled to save Mr O’Connor, he stopped breathing - and was eventually revived, transported to hospital - but died days later.
Sources have also revealed that gardai in Mountjoy Garda Station were formally notified about the incident over the phone just before 6:30pm - almost a half an hour after O’Connor was first discovered unresponsive in the cell on the landing.
It is understood that officers from that garda station arrived at the prison over an hour after that - and remained there for several hours as CCTV footage was obtained and witnesses were spoken to.
During that time the four suspects, who had all been isolated from one another, had their clothes removed for forensic examination - and a total of seven other prison cells were locked down as part of the investigation.
Last night the garda press office said the investigation was ongoing and it could not make comment on any aspects of the investigation for operational reasons.
Over a month on, it is understood that the four suspects have yet to be formally interviewed by investigating gardai - and they remain locked down, on what is called a “restricted regime” within the prison.
It is understood the four men are allowed out of their cells at separate times to the rest of the prison population - for limited exercise and recreational time.
Otherwise they remain locked up and isolated for most of the day - and have their meals sent to their cells.
The Mirror has also established that the cell where the attack happened is no longer a crime scene - and is back operating with a prisoner inside of it.
Meanwhile the full suspected motive for the attack has been established by investigating officers.
Officers believe O’Connor’s female associate was badly assaulted - and that he then ordered an attack on who he blamed over it in June.
But the person attacked by O’Connor’s associate then sought revenge of their own - and through a pal arranged for the coordinated attack in Mountjoy.
The shocking details come also as Robert’s heartbroken father Leo thanked pals for their ongoing support, as he comes to terms with his son’s death - one month on.
“I would like to thank all my family from home and abroad, a lot of the community in Darndale friends and neighbors and a lot of Robert;s friends….for all the help, support, compassion and love, gifts and mass cards, flowers, condolences and all your prayers,” he posted to social media yesterday.
“You all made it that much easier for my beautiful family and myself. We will be forever grateful. God bless you all and keep safe,” he said.
Mr O’Connor’s comments come after he called for “no retaliation” during his son’s funeral last month.
“I would hate to see any retaliation. I’m begging anyone if they hear anything to do something to stop it,” he told the congregation gathered at his son’s funeral at the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, in Darndale, North Co Dublin.
“I loved my son unconditionally,” he said in an emotional speech during the funeral Mass.
He also described his son as a “beautiful” person who had “lost his way” somewhat.
Speaking of his son’s killing, Mr O’Connor added : “People who get life... they’ll all see their families again.
“I won’t get to see my son anymore and neither will my family or his friends, or all the ones that love him.
“I would hate to see any retaliation. I’m begging anyone if they hear anything to do something to stop it.”
He added that neither he nor his son would have wanted to see that happen.
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