David Cully murder trial hears ballistics evidence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

David Cully’s murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard ballistics evidence concerning the shooting of his uncle, Edward O’Connor, at Ballycoolin Road, Finglas West, on 15 December 2013. David Cully has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The proceedings were reported on 6 July 2015.

David Cully claimed he fired from 30 feet and acted “in the heat of the moment” after Edward O’Connor commented about somebody who had accused him of sexual abuse. The allegation against Edward O’Connor was investigated, but the DPP decided not to prosecute.

Dr Thomas Hannigan testified on 5 July 2015 that he found similar firearms residue on David Cully’s tracksuit bottoms and Edward O’Connor’s jumper.

The firearm was not recovered. Dr Thomas Hannigan asked Detective Garda Seamus O’Donnell to provide a pistol and ammunition as close as possible to those used. Detective Garda Seamus O’Donnell fired two shots at each tea towel from eight and 30 feet. The report said strong lead results on the jumper and the eight-foot towel, compared with a weak result at 30 feet, supported a shooting distance of approximately eight feet.

Under cross-examination by Caroline Biggs SC, defending, the report recorded concessions that the original firearm and ammunition would improve reliability, the jumper and towels differed in texture, forensic literature recommended matching cloth samples, and a distance between eight and 30 feet remained possible. The witness nevertheless said he did not believe the texture differences affected the test’s outcome.

The prosecution had closed its case, and the trial continued before Mr Justice Carroll Moran and a jury of seven women and five men.