A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a Wicklow man charged with murdering a young Dubliner.
Séamus O’Byrne (27), a father of two, was shot five times in front of his girlfriend and baby son outside their home in Tymon Park North, Tallaght.
Garrett O’Brien (34), Clover Hill, Bray, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr O’Byrne on March 13th, 2009. He has also pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life on the same occasion.
The jury was sent home yesterday evening after failing to reach a verdict and will continue deliberations this morning.
Earlier yesterday Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley reminded the jury of the arguments of both sides. She said the prosecution case was that a group of people was involved in carrying out the murder and that Mr O’Brien was the gunman.
She said the jurors first had to ask themselves whether they accepted that this was a planned murder.
She then said that if the jurors thought the defendant was innocently associated with the plotters, as the defence had suggested, then they should acquit.