SLAIN CRIMINAL Paul Cullen was executed on the orders of one of Eamon 'the Don' Dunne's lieutenants, because he wrongly blamed him for trying set up his pal.
Convicted drug dealer Cullen (26), was shot dead as he drank in the Cabra House pub on Dublin's northside with his family last Sunday evening just after 7pm.
He previously received death threats from his former associates over an unpaid drug debt and had been formally warned his life was in danger by gardai. However, a source close to the Cullen family - who asked not to be named - claimed the dad of one was murdered over a misinterpreted text message.
He insisted that a senior member of a drugs gang - which was previously headed up by Eamon 'the Don' Dunne - had vowed to kill Cullen last summer. The mobster threatened to execute Cullen because he wrongly blamed him for trying to set up his pal, a violent gunman from Cabra.
The threat came after gardai were called to investigate reports that a gunman had attempted to gain access to Cullen's family home on August 3 last year.
Hitmen -
"Paul was killed because he sent a text to a mate in Finglas saying he was having a party and would they like to come over, " the source said. "The guy in Finglas replied: 'Who is there?' Paul answered: 'Me, me bra and [a well-known criminal].' "So then the Finglas lads Paul texted rang around and got a gun and tried to kill him [the well-known criminal] in Paul's house.
"Paul never wanted to set him up, he never would have brought a gang of hitmen to his dad's house and him in a wheelchair. A family source said: "We want people to know we are not revenging his murder, we want peace."
Gardai are currently investigating reports that 'the Don's' pal was spotted in the vicinity of the Cabra House in the hours before Cullen was killed. The notorious gangster is well known to gardai, but has so far managed to escape without any serious criminal convictions.
The criminal was a high-profile mourner at Dunne's funeral and was a close associate of Alan and Wayne Bradley. He was one of six mobsters who informed the inner core of Dunne's gang and has remained heavily involved in the drugs trade since his death. Cullen was shot six times in front of 4 shocked drinkers before the gunman fled the scene with an accomplice on a motorbike.
The convicted criminal knew his life was under "serious danger" ever since gardai seized over €50,000 of cannabis from him in January,2007.
The source close to the Cullen family admitted he had been threatened over drugs debts, but claimed they had tried to pay them off. "We don't want trouble, we have had to pay a lot of money since Paul's release. We paid, €25,000, 05,000 and €8,000 at different times. We just want peace now"
Notorious -
Cullen was part of a gang of young criminals from Cabra - who are all in their mid 20s - who were heavily involved in the drugs trade and had links to some of the country's most notorious mobsters.
His associates included Karl Hyland -the nephew of slain mobster Martin 'Marlo' Hyland - and convicted murderer Craig White. He was also a childhood pal oj a notorious gunman and armed robber from Cabra who worked for Eamon Dunne and is suspected of involvement in the murder of Baiba Saulite.
It is this violent criminal who Cullen had been accused of setting up for murder. Cullen was well known to gardai and ,GARDAI investigating the murder of Paul Oullen are working on another theory that he was killed after refusing to pay for a drugs shipment organised by convicted killer Craig White.
Detectives believe White, a former member of the 'Fat' Freddie Thompson mob, organised for Cullen to be given €50,OOO worth of drugs on credit. White and Cullen knew each other from cabra, spent time together in Mounijoy and were firm friends.
Cullen was released from prison a year ago after serving a sentence for the possession of €56,OOO worth of cannabis. • The drugs originated from Christy Kinihan's gang and because White kept his mouth shut when he was convicted for a murder he did on behalf of Thompson, he is well respected by the Kinihans. Therefore the favour on behalf of Cullen it was granted.
•However, Oullen refused to pay for the drugs when the time came for his tab to be settled and was warned that he would be shot. His family and friends tried to settle the debt to spare his life, paying over money to the Kinihan mob.
However, an example was made of him because he showed "disrespect" to the gang by refusing to cough up and Kinihan had to take action. Craig White is understood to have known that his friend was facing execution but there was nothing he could do to save him. _ White is still seen as a very influential criminal despite the fact he is serving a life sentence. In July 2009 the baby-faced killer was jailed for life for the murder of Noel Roche on the Clontarf Road in November 2005.
Roche was a senior member of the Brian Rattigan crime gang.
He had a number of serious convictions. In November 2008 he appeared in court along with his cousin, Carl Cullen (20), where they were given custodial sentences for attacking a female garda while she was arresting another youth.
Imposed
At the time of the court appearance,Cullen was serving a six-year sentence which had been imposed in February of that year for storing almost €56,000 worth of cannabis resin. He was storing the drugs to clear drug debts, as he was in fear of his life after receiving a bullet in the post. The two pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Amanda Lynch on November 30,2007. Paul Cullen also pleaded guilty to taking possession of an official Garda weapon. Judge Katherine Delahunt imposed a three-year sentence, with the final 18 months of Cullen's sentence suspended.
