Gardaí believe the shooting was ordered by a Bray-based crime gang which is considered the main supplier of drugs in the north Wicklow area
Clinton McCormack (44), a married father of three and construction worker from Bray, Co Wicklow died at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin on December 19, 2023.
Five days earlier, Mr McCormack and his teenage son were attacked by two masked gunmen while working on a property at Bellevue Hill, Delgany, Co Wicklow during which the deceased sustained gunshot wounds to his arms and legs.
Detective Inspector Seamus Ryan told a sitting of Dublin District Coroners Court on Thursday that a garda file on the investigation into the circumstances of Mr McCormack’s death is with the DPP.
Det Insp Ryan applied for an adjournment of the inquest under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act on the basis that “matters are being considered” by the DPP.
Clinton McCormack’s coffin at St Michael’s church in Gorey Co Wexford
The coroner, Cróna Gallagher, granted the application and listed the case for further mention on March 12, 2026.
At the formal opening of the inquest in August 2024, Dr Gallagher observed that establishing the cause of Mr McCormack’s death was “extremely complex”.
The coroner revealed that the results of a post mortem showed that he had suffered a lack of oxygen to the brain as well as acute swelling of the brain.
She also confirmed that he had suffered a cardiac arrest due to multiple gunshot wounds.
It is understood that Mr McCormack was unaware that he had a brain tumour whose existence was also confirmed by the post mortem.
The deceased, who came originally from Gorey, Co Wexford, had been living near Oulart, Co Wexford in the period before his death.
The late Clinton McCormack.
Gardaí believe the shooting was ordered by a Bray-based crime gang which is considered the main supplier of drugs in the north Wicklow area.
One male was subsequently arrested in relation to a 2007-reg black Ford Focus that was seen near the scene of the shooting.
Gardaí also carried out searches on six properties in parts of Dublin and Wicklow as part of their investigation into the incident.
A convicted rapist, Eoghan O’Connell (36) is currently serving a 12-year sentence for a previous attempted murder on Mr McCormack in front of his family over nine years ago.
Clinton Mc Cormack
News in 90 Seconds, Thursday, September 11
The incident occurred as Mr McCormack was leaving his then home in Old Court Park, Bray, Co Wicklow to go to work shortly after 7am on April 18, 2016.
O’Connell pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Mr McCormack before a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in March 2018.
The court heard that the victim, who moved home following the attack, escaped injury because the shotgun used by O’Connell misfired due to shotgun cartridges being damp.