Jury to retire to consider Tallaght murder case

The jury is to retire tomorrow morning to begin their deliberations in the trial of a Wicklow man accused of fatally shooting a 27-year-old father-of-two in front of his partner and young son.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy delivered a lengthy charge today, following 17 days of evidence in the trial of Garrett O’Brien, at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr O’Brien (aged 34) of Clover Hill, Bray has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Seamus ‘Shay’ O’Byrne at his home in Tymon Park North, Tallaght on March 13, 2009.

He has also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life on the same date.

It is the prosecution’s case that Mr O’Brien was the hooded gunman who shot Mr O’Byrne five times in the back in the driveway of his home before struggling with his partner, Sharon Rattigan, who was also shot in the leg.

They claim he was part of a gang who had, for two days prior to the shooting, plotted to kill Mr O’Byrne at his home.

The jury of six men and six women will commence their deliberations tomorrow morning when the trial resumes.