A Dublin man has gone on trial for the murder of Seamus O'Byrne (27) who was gunned down in front of his girlfriend and baby.

Eugene Cullen of Derry Road in Crumlin denies the killing at Tymon Park North in Tallaght on March 13th 2009.

Alex Owens SC, for the prosecution, opened the case by telling the jury that Mr. O'Byrne was leaving his house on Tymon Park North at 8:15pm when he was shot with a pistol four or five times at point blank range, by a man in dark clothing.

His girlfriend Sharon Rattigan, who was waiting for him with their baby in the car, got out and tackled the gunman and received a gun shot wound in the course of the struggle.

However the jury heard she managed to wrestle the gun off the man who was knocked to the ground and fell over a wall - before he made his escape to a green area nearby.

The State do not allege that Eugene Cullen was the gunman. The prosecution claims he was involved in organising the shooting and in the getaway.

It is alleged he was sitting in a silver Nissan Primera near Tymon North at the time of the shooting but that he and others made their escape in the car when things went wrong.

Mr. Owens has said CCTV recovered by gardai from the Red Cow Hotel will show the plotters meeting about the killing on the 13th and 14th March.

The trial at the Central Criminal Court is expected to last four weeks.