Dad dies in suspected ‘punishment taking pictures gone improper’ days after jail launch
Mark Cullen, 39, was shot once in the leg at a pre-arranged meeting in Dun Laoghaire, south Dublin and died within minutes – Gardai are now hunting down his killer
Mark Cullen who died after being shot in Dun Laoghaire
A young father bled to death in what is believed to be a botched punishment shooting. As the investigation into the fatal shooting of Mark Cullen, 39, gets underway, sources have confirmed that the victim had only been released from prison a fortnight ago.
Officers looking into Mr Cullen’s death in the affluent area of Dun Laoghaire in south county Dublin early yesterday morning now suspect that the individual who shot him once in the leg did not intend for him to die. “In as much as a shooting can be accidental, this seems to be it,” a source revealed.
South Dublin officers are exploring several theories, including the possibility that Mr Cullen, from nearby Shankill, was killed in a punishment shooting that went wrong. They are also investigating whether he was embroiled in a dispute with another man who subsequently drew a pistol and shot him.
Sources suggest Mr Cullen was shot once in the leg during a prearranged meeting in a side street in south Dublin yesterday, and officers do not believe his assailant meant to kill him. Instead, they think Mr Cullen, who died within minutes, sustained his lethal injuries when the bullet that struck his leg severed an artery, leading to massive blood loss.
“He bled out,” a source confirmed last night, as gardai launched a major probe into the death of Mr Cullen, who would have turned 40 in November, reports Dublin Live.
The shooting occurred on Patrician Park, a small street just off Kill Avenue in Dun Laoghaire – and police believe he arrived there for a pre-arranged meeting around 8.30am yesterday. “It looks like there was no intention to kill him,” an insider revealed. “He was shot in the leg, stumbled out on to the street and died. It happened very quickly.”
The area was cordoned off last night as police launched their investigation. Mr Cullen wasn’t seen as a significant criminal but was thought to be linked to a crime gang.
This gang, local to the area, is heavily involved in drugs, but are themselves considered low level. He was, however, a repeat offender who had been released from prison about two weeks ago, after serving a 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,” an insider revealed. Police have urged witnesses to step forward.
A spokesman stated: “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.”
The spokesperson urged witnesses to get in touch with 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.”
Locals have expressed their disbelief following the deadly 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 scared, [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 expressed his shock at the death, marking the first firearm fatality in the Republic since May 2024.
This previous incident saw minor criminal Josh Itseli fatally shot by an associate in Drimnagh, south Dublin. Similar to Mr Cullen’s tragic end, gardai believe Mr Itseli’s death, at just 20 years old, 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 live 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.”
