By Charlie Mallon
Tuesday March 17 2009
A teenage girl and three men quizzed about the weekend murder of a leading gangland figure Shay O'Byrne in Dublin have been released.
A 16-year-old girl was detained yesterday as part of the on-going investigation into the shooting dead of the 27-year-old in Tallaght on Friday night.
His partner Sharon Rattigan (26) grappled with the gunman outside their home in Tymon Park North, Tallaght. Their 18-month-old toddler Nicky was uninjured.
SWOOP
The teenager is understood to be linked to one of three men arrested in a swoop by armed detectives immediately after the shooting.
She was taken to Terenure garda station while the men had been questioned in Rathfarnham and Tallaght stations.
Files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide if charges should be brought against them.
Investigating officers have a number of vital leads which could bring the killer and his getaway driver to justice.
A forensic team is examining a silver Nissan Primera which was stopped in the Crumlin area on Friday night. It matches the description of a car seen leaving the scene.
Sharon Rattigan, who discharged herself from Tallaght hospital on Saturday morning, is also a vital witness.
Having tackled the gunman, she may have picked up vital DNA evidence.
The investigating team has also recovered a gun in a follow- up search.
Information given to them describes the killer as 25 to 30 years old, about 5ft 9ins tall with dark hair. He was dressed in black and was wearing a hood.
The other man is believed to be in his mid to late 30s, 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall, with a strong build and dark, tight-cut hair. The shooting has led to increased security in the area with several individuals being warned that their lives are in danger.
The O'Byrne family were today finalising the funeral arrangements. In a statement they denied that Shay was a leading criminal and asked to be left in peace to mourn him.
They said they did "not accept" reports of his criminality and added: "Terrible things have been said about Seamus. The family beg to be left in peace."
But senior gardai insist he was aligned to the leader of one of the feuding Crumlin-Drimnagh drug gangs.
Investigating detectives have been given the name of the gunman involved.
Tensions
The killing has heightened tensions once again in the area, with fears that the warring factions will recommence the tit-for-tat war which has plagued the area since 2001.
In February 2004, members of the rival Freddie Thompson gang attacked an innocent man at Lansdowne Valley apartments, after mistaking him for O'Byrne.
Anyone with any information on Friday night's attack is asked to contact gardai at Tallaght on 01 6666056 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
cmallon@herald.ie
- Charlie Mallon
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