Gangster quizzed over Paul ‘Frank’ Byrne murder left country after jail release

This week gardaí made their latest appeal for information in relation to the murder of Paul ‘Frank’ Byrne whose body was found in a forest 15 years ago.

Mr Byrne was last seen alive on July 15, 2009 at Kilmartin Green in Tallaght.

The father-of-two’s cause of death was inconclusive, but it is suspected he may have been stabbed.

His skeletal remains were found in a remote forest near Blessington Co Wicklow, by a forestry worker on July 29, 2010.

The Sunday World has learned that a person of major interest in the case - Tallaght gangster John Paul Duncan (41) provided authorities with a false address after his release from prison and is suspected of now being based in the UK.

“Information obtained suggests he left Ireland as soon as he possibly could and he had no connection to the address that he provided prison authorities,” a source said.

“The address he gave was actually in Blessington where he has no known associations but is close to where the murder happened – there was no sign of him there when gardai checked.”

He was released from Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon last December after serving a two and a half year jail sentence following his conviction for possessing €8,500 of cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station and assaulting a garda.

Duncan was arrested after he was caught with a large haul of cocaine just hours after being released from garda custody in January, 2023, where he had been questioned about the murder of Mr Byrne.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 18th

Senior sources say that the victim had been in fear of Duncan in the months before his disappearance and had “been doing everything to avoid him”.

An exact motive for the murder has not yet been definitely established but detectives have probed various reports that it may have happened over a dispute about drugs, and an allegation that the victim failed to properly dispose of a gun that had been used in an earlier gang related shooting.

“Mr Byrne was in fear of his life in relation to Mr Duncan who was an enforcer for a criminal network they were involved in,” a source told the Irish Independent.

“The victim was under severe pressure before he went missing 16 years ago.”

Duncan was one of five people arrested in the lengthy investigation and a file was sent to the DPP who directed no prosecution in the case.

It is understood that a “peer review” of the murder case is now ongoing with the possibility that it could be sent to the gardai’s Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), also known as the cold case unit.

Duncan, who has 150 previous criminal convictions, was busted on January 31, 2023, in the capital’s north inner city.

This was less than 12 hours after he was released from custody at Baltinglass Garda Station in Co Wicklow where he had been quizzed about the murder.

Duncan has 139 previous convictions in Ireland and 11 in other jurisdictions, including drug offences, assault causing harm, theft and escape from lawful custody.

He was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a €1.8m cocaine haul in 2007.

Duncan escaped from Loughan House open prison in 2016 and fled to the UK, from where he was extradited in June 2017 and then sent to Castlerea Prison.

In their appeal for information this week garda said in a statement: “Paul was last seen on the 15th July 2009 at Kilmartin Green in Tallaght, Dublin 24 when it was reported that he left the estate in a 2000 registered wine-coloured Mitsubishi Carisma accompanied by other males.

“This was the last sighting of Paul Byrne.

“Paul was reported missing by his mother at Tallaght Garda Station the following day.

“To date, five people have been arrested in connection with this investigation, however no one has been brought to justice for Paul’s murder.

“It is now 16 years since Paul Byrne was last seen and Gardaí at Blessington Garda Station are renewing their appeal to the public for assistance and information in relation to his disappearance and murder. Paul’s family are anxious for the investigation to progress to bring them closure.

“Gardaí are appealing to those who may have information since 2009, or who may have come into possession of information in the intervening years, to come forward.

“Gardaí are urging individuals, who sixteen years on may want to come forward to do so, especially if relationships or associations have changed over the years. With the passage of time, people may now feel more comfortable sharing information with Gardaí.

“Gardaí would like to assure the public that they will treat anyone assisting the investigation in a sensitive manner.

“Anyone with information can contact Gardaí in Blessington at (045) 865 202, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”