Gangs in the Ballyfermot area are believed to have been involved in the pub brawl which led to the death of a British man in Dublin

Gangs in the Ballyfermot area are believed to have been involved in the pub brawl which led to the death of a British man in Dublin in the early hours of yesterday morning.Jason Martin, in his early 40s, was from Manchester and was thought to have had links with drug dealers from one of the gangs. The incident happened between 1.30am and 2am at Hannigen’s pub, on Park West Road in Ballyfermot. The row started in the pub, where people had been watching the Bernard Dunne title fight. It is understood some people involved in the row attended the fight at the 02 and went to the pub afterwards. As more people got involved, the row spilled onto the plaza and into the car park.When gardaí arrived at the scene, they found up to 20 people involved in the disturbance. They were carrying a variety of weapons such as knives, broken glasses and broken bottles. It is understood a hatchet-type weapon was also wielded. Broken glasses were still visible at the scene yesterday, some distance from the area where the fracas took place.Mr Martin was found by gardaí near steps which led down to the car park. He was taken to Tallaght hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10am yesterday.Gardaí found a second injured man in the back of a white Toyota van in the car park.The man, in his 20s, from the local area, sustained a stomach wound. He was undergoing surgery at Tallaght hospital yesterday, but Supt John Quirke from Ballyfermot Garda station said his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.Gardaí were confronted and obstructed by a number of people when they arrived at the scene. Four men were arrested under the Public Order Act and taken to Ballyfermot Garda station. They were released yesterday morning and files will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.Supt Quirke said it was too early to say if people came to the pub armed with weapons or if the row was sparked by something that happened in the pub. “I understand there may have been a number of implements, but as of yet we haven’t identified any of them,” he said.He appealed for the public’s help in solving the crime. “We are making an appeal to anybody who was in the area here last night between 1am and 2.30am,” he said. “It’s a popular enough pub in the local area here. There would have been a considerable number of people here.”He encouraged anyone with information to contact Ballyfermot Garda station in confidence at 01-6667200. He said CCTV television footage from the pub and the plaza was available and could help to progress the investigation.
The pub was known as Bennigan’s, but it was closed for some time. It reopened as Hannigen’s under a new licence this year.A woman who answered the phone in the pub yesterday said staff had been advised by gardaí not to comment on the incident.A team of gardaí worked at the cordoned-off scene yesterday.