Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused and gunman were stopped by gardai years before killing

Date
2014-03-04

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

In 2014 the Central Criminal Court heard that Eugene Cullen, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the 2009 murder of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, in Tymon Park North, Tallaght. The prosecution said Cullen was not the gunman but one of four men who plotted and executed the killing. A man from Bray, Garret O'Brien, was identified as the shooter. Garda Kevin O'Shaughnessy testified that three years earlier he had stopped a Volkswagen with no tax, seized it, and that Cullen was the driver while O'Brien was the passenger. Garda Clifford Cullen described CCTV footage from the Leisureplex in Coolock showing three men entering at 8:50 pm, with movements until 9:47 pm. Detective Garda Camon Ryan recounted driving routes to establish timings, noting a 26‑minute trip from the shooting scene to the Leisureplex. Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified that O'Byrne died from five gunshot wounds, including chest, head and left leg injuries.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused and gunman were stopped by gardai years before killing. Charges or matters: murdering Seamus O' Byrne (27) at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on March 13, 2009. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 13, 2009 Incident
January 7, 2011 Incident
2014-03-04 Publication

Why: A 30-year-old man accused of murdering a father of two in Dublin five years ago was previously stopped by gardai with the gunman because the car they were travelling in had no tax, a court has heard. CNI source report