The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found him guilty after just over four hours of deliberation and a six day trial. Disconsolate members of Byrne’s family were directed by Judge Frank O’Donnell to leave the court after the jury returned their verdict.Judge O'Donnell remanded Byrne in custody until sentencing next month. In denying the bail application made on behalf of Byrne, Judge O’Donnell said that he was a man who had entered the witness box and gave evidence “that flies in the face of all logic”.He thanked the jury of seven men and five women for their service and said that they had taken “great care” in doing their duty. He said that the experience of the jury may remind them that, despite public criticism of the judicial system, they would now no doubt wish for a trial by jury should any member of their family find themselves before a court. Byrne, a self-employed tiler, had pleaded not guilty to possession of 32 kilogrammes of heroin for sale or supply in the Culmore Road area of Palmerstown on January 15, 2008.His trial heard from several detectives involved in the operation who said they saw Byrne collect the van containing the heroin before he parked it and began to move the drugs into a nearby park. Detective Garda Kieran Sheehan told prosecuting counsel, Mr Sean Gillane SC, that he was part of the operation observing Byrne in the Clondalkin area when at around 5.25pm he saw a silver Volkswagen van drive past him and down a laneway off the Culmore Road.Another detective followed the van and Det Gda Sheehan got out and walked in their direction. He said when he got closer he saw the accused standing at the rear of the van.He went into a garden and approached Byrne for a closer look and said he saw him taking packages from the van and putting them in a plastic bag. He said a Fiat Punto then arrived and parked beside the van. A woman got out and took something from the car's boot and then her and Byrne crossed paths. Byrne continued walking down a laneway carrying two plastic bags. A detective drove his car at speed up the laneway past Byrne and Det Gda Sheehan identified himself as an armed garda and told him to stop.Byrne dropped the bags, causing some of the packages to fall out, before running. The detective drew his firearm and gave chase down the laneway and into a park.
He said he saw Byrne throw his phone towards a stream as he ran before he lost track of him at a gate. Two other gardaí joined Det Gda Sheehan and they began a search of the area. Byrne was found hiding in a wooded area nearby and arrested.Giving evidence in his own defence, Byrne said he would not identify the man who he claims he lent the van to or say where he lives or give a description of him because he fears for his family's safety.Mr Byrne told Mr Gillane that he had lent the van to a friend of his brother and when he went to pick it up he saw the drugs in the back and panicked. He said he was trying to get rid of them when gardaí moved in on him and chased him through the park.When asked by Mr Gillane why he would not identify the man he lent the van to he responded, "you don't have to walk outside this court and fear for your life."
He denied a suggestion by counsel that this "six million dollar man" was a "ghost" or a "figment of his imagination."

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