Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6993Murder · Co. Wicklow · 5 Jun 2018

Photos of Gerard Cervi at US gun range before Bray Boxing Club shooting

On 5 June 2018 a gunman shot Bobby Messett, a 50-year-old father of three, dead during an early morning gym class at Bray Boxing Club, Bray Harbour, Co Wicklow, and also injured boxing coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. Gerard Cervi, a 36-year-old man from East Wall, Dublin 3, was arrested in September 2018 and charged with attempting to murder Mr Taylor and Mr Britton and with murdering Mr Messett, to which he pleaded not guilty. The first trial collapsed in September 2021 after a juror fell seriously ill, and at a later trial in the Central Criminal Court the jury acquitted Cervi of the attempted murder charges but unanimously found him guilty of murdering Mr Messett. On 1 December 2023 Mr Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced Cervi to the mandatory term of life imprisonment.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced1 Dec
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Bobby Messett, 50, was shot dead while attending an early morning gym class at Bray Boxing Club.
  • The gunman entered the club at about 6.30am and fired nine shots into a crowded room, injuring boxing coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton.
Where
The shooting took place at Bray Boxing Club, Bray Harbour, Co Wicklow.
When
The shooting took place on 5 June 2018.
Cause
  • Mr Messett died instantly from a single bullet to the head.
  • Gardaí suspect Cervi had a significant drug debt, but no motive was ever advanced and there was no evidence Mr Messett was the target.
Weapon
Photos show Cervi holding what appears to be a Smith and Weston 29 double-action revolver.
Investigation
  • Cervi, 36, was arrested in September 2018 and has been in custody since.
  • Cervi's DNA and fingerprints were found in a Volkswagen Caddy van that the prosecution alleged was used by the gunman.
Charges
Cervi was charged with attempting to murder Pete Taylor and Ian Britton and with murdering Bobby Messett, and he pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
In court
  • The first trial collapsed in September 2021 after a juror fell seriously ill.
  • At the Central Criminal Court a jury acquitted Cervi of attempting to murder Mr Taylor and Mr Britton and unanimously found him the gunman and guilty of murdering Mr Messett.
Sentence
On 1 December 2023 Mr Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced Cervi to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder.
Other details
Cervi had no previous convictions, and photos taken at a US gun range months before the shooting were published by the Irish Mirror in December 2023.
44 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBobby Messett was gunned down as he attended an early morning gym class. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPete Taylor was injured by the gunman. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIan Britton also suffered injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe gunman entered the club at about 6.30am and fired nine times into the crowded room. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatPete Taylor and Ian Britton were injured in the shooting. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBobby Messett was shot in the head and killed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe gunman fired indiscriminately into a gym class. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBoxing coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton were injured in the shooting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe shooting took place at Bray Boxing Club, Bray Harbour, Co Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe shooting happened at Bray Boxing Club, Bray Harbour, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe shooting took place at Bray Boxing Club. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe shooting took place on June 5, 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe shooting happened on 5 June 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeMr Messett died instantly from a single bullet to the head. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeGardaí suspect Cervi had a significant drug debt. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe gunman fired nine shots into the crowded room. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCervi was arrested in September 2018 and has been in custody since. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe video of Cervi at the gun range was shown to him while he was questioned at Bray Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeCervi was charged with attempting to murder Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCervi pleaded not guilty to murdering Bobby Messett. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtCervi was charged with attempting to murder Pete Taylor and Ian Britton but a jury acquitted him of those charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury unanimously found Cervi was the gunman and guilty of murdering Bobby Messett. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury acquitted Cervi of the attempted murder charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury unanimously found Cervi guilty of murdering Robert Messett. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe first trial collapsed in September 2021 after a juror fell seriously ill. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution told the jury that CCTV evidence was sufficient to convict Cervi. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtCervi's DNA and fingerprints were found in a Volkswagen Caddy van that the prosecution alleged was used by the gunman. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury rejected the defence case that there was no evidence identifying Cervi as the gunman. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtCervi has now been convicted by a jury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCervi was sentenced to life imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceGerard Cervi was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering Mr Messett. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMr Justice Karen O’Connor sentenced Cervi to life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCervi has been jailed for life for the murder of Bobby Messett. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo motive was ever advanced for the shooting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí said there was no evidence that Bobby Messett was the target. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCervi was 36 years old and from the East Wall area in Dublin 3. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBobby Messett was 50 years old. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo motive for the shooting was ever advanced. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherProsecutors said there was no evidence that Mr Messett was the target. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCervi had no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPhotos show Cervi practising at a gun range in the United States months before the shooting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPhotos show Cervi holding what appears to be a Smith and Weston 29 double-action revolver. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherCervi has never explained why he killed Mr Messett, and the full motive is not known. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Pictured: Murderer Gerard Cervi practised at US gun range before Bray shooting

    Adds photos of Cervi at a US gun range taken before the shooting, the trial evidence relied on, and the statement that he has been jailed for life.

    convicted, Gerard Cervi, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Gerard Cervivictim, Bobby Messett, male, irish (judged from name)Bobby Messettvictim, Pete Taylor, male, irish (judged from name)Pete Taylorvictim, Ian Britton, irish (judged from name)Ian Britton
  2. 1 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man sentenced to life for murder of father of three ‘in wrong place at the wrong time’ at Bray Boxing Club

    Sentencing hearing after a jury convicted Cervi of murder following two trials; the jury acquitted him of attempted murder of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. Victim impact statements from the family are reported.

    victim, Robert "Bobby" Messett, 50, male, irish (judged from name)Robert "Bobby" Messettvictim, Pete Taylor, irish (judged from name)Pete Taylorvictim, Ian Britton, irish (judged from name)Ian Brittonconvicted, Gerard Cervi, 36, male, namedGerard Cervi
  3. 1 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gerard Cervi sentenced to life for Bray Boxing Club murder of Bobby Messett

    Reports the Central Criminal Court sentencing of Gerard Cervi to life imprisonment, the victim impact statements, and the jury verdicts on the murder and attempted murder charges.

    convicted, Gerard Cervi, 36, male, namedGerard Cervivictim, Robert 'Bobby' Messett, 50, male, irish (judged from name)Robert 'Bobby' Messettvictim, Pete Taylor, male, irish (judged from name)Pete Taylorvictim, Ian Britton, irish (judged from name)Ian Britton