Murder witness tells how victim was shot in front of young son

A witness in the trial of a Wicklow man accused of murder saw a 27-year-old, father of two struggle to open the front door of his home while he was being repeatedly shot in the back by a hooded gunman, in front of his partner and young son.

A statement from the witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was read out to the court on the eleventh day of the trial of Garrett O’Brien (aged 37), who denies fatally shooting Seamus O’Byrne in the driveway of his home at Tymon Park North, Tallaght on March 13, 2009.