"Only able to be identified by his DNA" – the ruthless gangland killing of Paul Byrne

"Only able to be identified by his DNA" – the ruthless gangland killing of Paul Byrne

From The Indo Daily by Irish Independent

July 19, 2026 · 18 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the gangland killing of Paul Byrne and the ongoing investigation into his murder.

As the 2000s came to a close, gang violence in Ireland was a common problem. In the summer of 2009, Paul ‘Frank’ Byrne, who was not considered to be a major criminal but was associated with a serious criminal gang, was seen getting into a wine-coloured Mitsubishi Carisma. It would be the last time the 20-year-old was seen alive. Byrne’s remains were discovered a little over a year later in a forest in Co Wicklow, identified only via DNA analysis. Seventeen years later, those responsible for his murder remain at large. The investigation remains open, with gardaí making a fresh push for information. Will those in the know ever come forward? On this episode of  The Indo Daily , host Fionnán Sheahan is joined by  Irish Independent  crime correspondent Ken Foy to look at the murder of Paul ‘Frank’ Byrne and where the authorities hope to finally make a crucial breakthrough. The Indo Daily  is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at  independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Fionnán Sheahan

Guest: Ken Foy

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Irish Independent

Places: Co Wicklow

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