Courts / Dublin / Report

Sharon Rattigan gives evidence of being shot in the leg as she grappled with man who gunned down her partner

Summary

The trial of Gary Flynn, 31, of Rossfield Drive in Tallaght, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Flynn has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North in Tallaght on March 13, 2009. Sharon Rattigan, a co-defendant in the case, testified that she was shot in the leg while grappling with a gunman who allegedly killed her partner. She described the suspect as a stocky man in dark clothing who fired at Mr O'Byrne before turning on her. Rattigan stated she disarmed the man, and they both fell over a wall before he fled. She kept the weapon and placed it in her car. Prosecution counsel Alex Owens SC presented CCTV footage showing a car and van entering the estate, followed by four shots within 12 seconds, and a vehicle speeding away. Neighbours Elizabeth and Anthony Caffola corroborated hearing the shots and seeing the victims. Garda John O'Connell detailed the audio and visual evidence, while Garda Adrian King and Eddie Fallon described securing a Red Bull can and mobile phone found near the scene. The jury, comprising nine men and three women, was sent home for two days for legal arguments before Justice Patrick McCarthy. The matter is adjourned, with the jury scheduled to return on Friday.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sharon Rattigan gives evidence of being shot in the leg as she grappled with man who gunned down her partner. Charges or matters: the murder of Seamus 'Shay' O'Byrne at Tymon Park North in Tallaght on March 13, 2009. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• March 13, 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-01-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report