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Man sentenced to life for south Dublin murder

Summary

Eugene Cullen, 30, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Seamus O'Byrne, 27, in south Dublin. The Central Criminal Court heard that O'Byrne was shot dead at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on 13 March 2009, in front of his girlfriend Sharon Rattigan and their baby. Rattigan tackled the assassin and was shot in the leg while disarming him. The prosecution alleged that Cullen was not the gunman but a participant in the planning and execution of the murder, acting by common design. He was the second person convicted for the crime; Garrett O'Brien was the gunman, sentenced to life in 2012. The jury, after 3 hours 41 minutes, returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Mr Justice Barry White imposed a mandatory life sentence, back‑dated to 8 May 2012 for time spent in custody. Eugene Cullen pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man sentenced to life for south Dublin murder. Charges or matters: murdering Seamus (Shay) O' Byrne (27) at Tymon Park North, Tallaght, on March 13, 2009. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• March 13, 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 8, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 2008 Incident
• May 2012 Incident
• Christmas Other
• 2014-03-19 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report