Prosecution case concludes in trial of man for 2003 killing

The prosecution has finished calling evidence in the trial of a 38-year-old man accused of shooting dead a Dublin man in Co. Offaly nine years ago.

Darren Byrne of no fixed abode, but originally from Raheny, denies murdering Paul Ryan at Coolderry, Birr on April 12, 2003.

The court heard Ryan described as a young man from a decent family in Donaghmede in north Dublin, who “drifted into the drugs scene”.

The evidence was that he travelled with Byrne, known as 'fats', and another man John O'Hanlon to Offaly in the early hours of the morning.

O'Hanlon – a key witness with a long criminal history - told the court they got out to urinate and then he heard a loud bang 10 inches away.

It is alleged Byrne shot 27 -year-old Ryan in the back of the head.

The court heard evidence that both men were being pursued over a drugs debt by the well-known criminal gang known as the Westies.

The dead man's mother gave evidence that her son said he ripped people off and knew a contract was out on his life.