‘Spared' by gang then shot in head – Secret exchanges of ex-Provo & innocent Dublin postie condemned to ‘living death'

The Irish Sun

4 days ago

INNOCENT postman Robert Delany was told his life would be spared by an ex-IRA man — before he was blasted in the head.
The secret exchanges between
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Robert's parents Terry and Noeleen Delany with his two daughters Megan and Katie
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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Robert pictured with his daughter Megan
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
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Robert's two daughters Kati, 17, and Megan 23
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
Robert, now 43, was
And it was all because he'd tried to break up a fight involving a son of the veteran republican just a few months earlier.
He survived the attempt on his life but continues to suffer what doctors have termed a 'living death'.
Now, almost 17 years on from the barbaric attack, Robert's family have revealed their ongoing trauma in the three-part podcast.
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Listen to This Is Robert from Thursday May 29 on
As the shooting victim continues to receive 24-hour care, his parents Terry and Noeleen outlined details of their son's deadly betrayal.
Terry said: 'Robert was keeping a low profile after the fight because he knew they were after him — they wanted to find out who he was.
'But then he took the initiative and went to see the young lad's father — a well known criminal.
'Robert met him in a local
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'He apologised for what happened, explained the circumstances and was told 'it's OK, don't worry about it'.
'Robert immediately relaxed his guard and we were also told they wanted €20,000 off him — but we could never prove that.'
Robert Delany's family recall first Christmas without him just months after shooting
Reflecting on the assurance Robert received, Terry added: 'The guards said to me that Robert was very naive — the criminal was never going to let this go.
'The criminal's ego had been blunted and Robert had sadly set himself up by meeting him.
'I think that goes to demonstrate how innocent he was — he actually sought out the criminal to apologise.
'UNDER THREAT'
'Robert was under threat — he realised shortly after the incident who he was dealing with.
'He realised he was in trouble and that it wasn't going to go away.
'He took the initiative to go and meet this guy, in the hope that he could sort it out himself without bringing any pressure on us — but sadly that didn't work.'
Terry added: 'We were told by his friends that Robert was keeping a low profile, that he was changing his shifts in work and working later.
'We only found this out after the event. We knew that something had happened but didn't quite know what it was. He never told us.'
CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE
Reflecting on his campaign for justice, dad Terry revealed: 'We just said from day one we're not going to be intimidated by anybody.
'We spoke to the guards about security measures we should take.
'We took a conscious decision that we were going to highlight Robert's case at every opportunity.'
Robert's mum Noeleen also reveals how she believes the meeting was arranged as they 'wanted to find out who he was' and 'follow him'.
Although Real IRA hitman Daniel Gaynor was responsible for the shooting,
At the time, Gaynor was a contract killer for the Real
NO CHARGE FOR SHOOTING
By then, the veteran republican had been abandoned by the mainstream republican movement over the shooting.
He had started associating with dissident republicans led by former Real IRA boss Alan Ryan.
The ex-Provo was probed about the shooting but was never charged.
Gaynor was also questioned but would never stand trial.
He was shot dead by Keith Wilson in August 2010.
'The guards said to me that Robert was very naive — the criminal was never going to let this go."
Terry Delany
Robert's family still believe that it's not too late for anyone to be charged with orchestrating the attempt on their son's life.
The new podcast will also hear from the former senior Garda who led the investigation into the shooting.
Pat Lordan, who retired in 2023 after 37 years' service, still hopes that the criminal who ordered the attack can be brought to justice.
'HORRIFIC CRIME'
Mr Lordan told us: 'This was a horrific crime against a young man who was doing his level best for his family.
'He was just trying to look after his family.
'There was a viewpoint that this was a case of mistaken identity among the investigators.
'But that, as we know, was not the case. We also got information early on that people had been told not to speak up.
'I think the words used would have been 'dead people can't talk'.
'This would be common enough but people do talk — no matter who they are.
'The best of criminals talk and trust in people.'
'UNUSUAL CASE'
The former officer added: 'This was the most unusual case and a difficult one for us Gardai to work on because the culprits didn't have to and never did set foot in Robert Delany's apartment.
'Robert was attacked in his own home. A shotgun fired at him, badly injuring him, leaving him with life-threatening injuries which he has not succumbed to.
'He's really had a horrific time for all these years — struggling through as a result of the injuries he sustained that day.'
GANG CULTURE RIFE THEN
ROBERT Delany was shot at a time when gangland crime in Dublin was rampant.
In 2008, Eamon 'The Don' Dunne was running one of the capital's most dangerous drugs gangs, two years after orchestrating the murder of his mentor Marlo Hyland.
But the Dublin brigade of the Real IRA was also a powerful force and had access to an arsenal of weapons. They used the threat of republican violence to tax drug dealers via various forms of extortion.
They warned dealers they'd be shot if they didn't pay protection money to support their 'cause'.
Daniel Gaynor was among those used to intimidate.
And at this time, the Wilsons were at the heart of murder in Dublin. The gun-for-hire family, led by Eric 'Lucky' Wilson, killed at least 12 people.
It all began when Eric murdered his former best friend in a row over drugs in 2005.
He then became the go-to guy for gangsters Eamon Dunne, Marlo Hyland and the Kinahans.
But Eric went on to murder a man in a Spanish bar in 2010 and was later caged for 23 years.
Robert's sister Sinead and his two daughters will also reveal their trauma on the three-part podcast.
We will also meet Robert.
THIS Is Robert is brought to you by the producers of the Kinahans and the Stardust Tragedy podcasts. Listen to This Is Robert from Thursday May 29 on
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Robert with his daughter Megan aged 6
Credit: Gary Ashe-Commissioned by The Sun Dublin