Officers investigating the death of Mark Cullen say they don’t believe his attacker intended to kill him
Mark Cullen who died after being shot in Dun Laoghaire
Gardai are hunting the killer of a young Irish dad who bled to death in a suspected punishment shooting gone wrong.
As officers begin their probe into the death of Mark Cullen, 39, sources have confirmed he had only been released from prison two weeks ago.
Officers investigating the death of Mr Cullen in leafy Dun Laoghaire in south county Dublin early yesterday morning now believe whoever shot him once in the leg did not mean for him to die.
“In as much as a shooting can be accidental, this seems to be it,” a source said.
Officers in south Dublin are examining several theories – including that Mr Cullen, from nearby Shankill, died in a punishment shooting gone wrong, reports DublinLive.
They are also probing if he was involved in a fight with a man – and the other person then pulled out a pistol and shot him.
Sources say Mr Cullen was shot once in the leg when he went to a prearranged meeting in a side street in south Dublin yesterday – and officers don’t believe his attacker intended to kill him.
Instead, officers believe Mr Cullen, who died in a matter of minutes after being shot in Dun Laoghaire, suffered his fatal injuries when the bullet that hit his leg severed an artery – and caused massive blood loss.
“He bled out,” a source confirmed last night – as gardai began a major investigation into the death of Mr Cullen – who would have been 40 in November.
The shooting happened on Patrician Park, a small street just off Kill Avenue in Dun Laoghaire – and gardai suspect he went there for a pre-arranged meeting at around 8.30am yesterday.
But he was then shot once in the leg by his attacker – and died shortly afterwards.
“It looks like there was no intention to kill him,” a source said.
“He was shot in the leg, stumbled out on to the street and died. It happened very quickly.”
The area was sealed off last night – as gardai began their investigation.
Mr Cullen was not regarded as a major criminal – but was believed to be connected to a crime gang.
That gang, based in the area, is heavily involved in drugs, but are themselves regarded as low level.
He was however, a repeat offender who had walked free from prison around two weeks ago, after serving a prison sentence for producing an article.
“He was not a serious player, you would not call him a gangster, but he had connections to a local outfit,” a source said.
Gardai have appealed for witnesses to come forward.
A spokesman said: “At approximately 8:30am, a male… sustained fatal injuries during the course of a shooting incident at Patrician Park, Kill Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
“The body of the male remains at the scene and a post-mortem examination will occur in due course.
“The Coroner has been notified. The scene is currently preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.
“Road closures are currently in operation, including at Kill Avenue and Glenageary Road Upper. Local diversions are in place.”
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The spokesman asked witnesses to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station. He said: “A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation and an Incident Room has been established at Dún Laoghaire Garda Station.
“Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.
“Anyone with any information including road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling near Kill Avenue, Dún Laoghaire between 8:00am and 9:00am on Sunday 5th July 2026 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Dún Laoghaire Garda Station on 01 666 5000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
Local residents have spoken of their shock over the fatal shooting.
“It is a really quiet area. We have been living here 20 plus years and never had anything like this before,” said local Irene Hayden.
“It is a bit scary, [that] is so close to home that it could happen. You read about these things in the news, but don’t really that it can actually happen on your doorstep.
“We have two teenage boys as well, so it’s pretty scary. It is a lovely residential area, so something like this is shocking. It’s alarming.
“As I say, you don’t think that it will happen on your doorstep, so when it does it is very alarming so God bless everyone involved and the family.
Local Labour Party councillor Thomas Joseph also said people were shocked at the death, which is the first gun killing in the Republic since May 2024.
That was when small time criminal Josh Itseli was shot dead by an associate in Drimnagh, south Dublin. Like the killing of Mr Cullen, gardai believe the death of Mr Itseli, 20, was accidental.
Councillor Joseph said: “I have not seen anything like this before and the people are shocked and scared. People are living very peacefully, especially in this area.
“It is a big shock, I Iive just across the road and I was visiting these houses last week. I have not seen anything like this.
“People are very welcoming and very positive. But it is an absolute shock.”
