LEGENDARY GAA club Crossmaglen Rangers last night said it would willingly assist gardai investigating the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe.

The south Armagh club issued a statement to the Sunday World through a lawyer, after it emerged that the focus of the murder hunt is now firmly fixed on a gang of five baby-faced criminals who have strong links with the most successful club in GAA history.

Sources close to the investigation believe the wider GAA family may now hold the key to catching the killers of the father-of-two, who was also a devoted Gaelic games man.The Sunday World can today reveal that the reward for information on the murder is expected to be doubled to €100,000 in the belief that those close to the killers hold the key to solving the brutal murder, and that gang members are turning on each other.

Execution

Crimestoppers will this week put up a further €50,000 to add to the €50,000 already offered by the Irish League of Credit Unions in the hunt for the gang. It is hoped that the money, coupled with the heat being put on the area known as 'Bandit Country', will break the traditional Omerta that usually surrounds the lawless land where the suspects live.

Father Michael Cusack, who celebrated Garda Donohoe's funeral and who will lead a month's mind mass today,said: "Wherever people are, in whatever part of this country, north or south of that space called the Border, I would say they need to come forward and name names. This was an atrocity."

One month after the callous murder, a Sunday World investigation into the suspected killers led us right into the heart of South Armagh l; Border country.

Over 48 hours, our team entered a world where no outsiders are welcome and where decades of republican criminality has spawned a feral gang of young thugs that have threatened the very foundations of social order.

We cannot print the names of the gang of five believed to be responsible for the execution of Garda Donohoe, but we understand that two are key players on Crossmaglen Rangers teams and the other three are closely associated with the club and some of its members.

Within hours of the shooting at Lordship Credit Union in Dundalk last month, the PSNI had furnished the Gardai with the names of the five, all in their early 20s.
Three, including a girl, are siblings from one well-known republican family that has been involved in diesel laundering and smuggling for decades.
The other two are childhood friends;the gang leader and his lieutenant who is in a relationship with the girl suspected as being the getaway driver for the gang - a couple who see them- " selves as a young Bonnie and Clyde.

An unprecedented sharing of intelligence between the PSNI and the

Garda at the highest level has identified the gang through the use of covert human intelligence sources established during the Troubles. Ordinary members of the GAA club,which is the holder of a record six All-Ireland football titles, are horrified by the news that the focus of the investigation is fixed on the gang, who are all well known.in the Crossmaglen area.

Stunned

One high-profile member who did not wish to be named said he was "stunned" at the development in the investigation and would totally refute any claims that the club would give any protection to the killers.

In response to a series of questions we put to club officials about its connections to the suspected gang,Crossmaglen Rangers issued the following statement through a lawyer:"Garda Donohoe did not have any association with Crossmaglen Rangers football club. It was therefore not appropriate for the club to issue a statement of sympathy to his family.

"Crossmaglen Rangers has no knowledge of the prime focus of the Garda or PSNI investigation into the murder of Garda Donohoe, but if invited by either body to assist their enquiries will willingly do so."

A mammoth garda investigation centred in Dundalk is making slow but steady progress in its inquiries.
While no forensics could be salvaged from the getaway car found in an isolated forest near Keady, Co. Armagh, following the shooting, phone records are currently being mapped and the results are expected in the coming weeks.

Despite the technological advances in mapping technology which have regularly linked suspects to their crimes,it is believed that the gang may have broken protocol and made frantic mobile calls to associates as they fled Dundalk at breakneck speed following the shooting.

Officers believe that they made arrangements to have the stolen Volkswagen Passat torched as they made their way back to bandit country.
Analysis of cross-Border cell sites,along with painstaking CCTV examination, may yet yield some crucial evidence for the lOO-strong team.

Alibis

We understand that all five suspects have been provided with alibis, claiming they were at home on the night of the murder on January 25 last, but officers are hoping their inquiries will prove otherwise.

Our Sunday World investigation in Bandit Country has uncovered a community under siege from the authorities and a young gang at the brink of breaking point.
Sources within the area have told us that the gang leader, the man suspected of pulling the trigger, is holed up in Glasgow and has told relatives that it was his lieutenant who took the fatal shot and not him, signalling tensions within the gang.

At one point during the week our sources said he was on the verge of handing himself over to gardai to
admit his part in the robbery and finger his best friend as the shooter.

None of the gang or their associates will deal with the PSNI, due to the historical tensions in the area, but it is understood that as the intelligence network tightens its screws, the tight-knit gang is on the verge of imploding.

Gardai have been facilitated in their inquiries in the area by the PSNI and have met with sources that are helping them with their investigation.

By their nature, those living in Bandit Country are uncooperative with authorities.
For years, Crossmaglen and its surrounding townlands was policed by armed RUC officers who were helicoptered in and out of an iron fortress that remains in the centre of the town.

In recent years the PSNI have had absolutely no visible presence in the area, which in essence polices itself.
However, we understand that following the peace process the restructured PSNI took over the 'Covert Human Intelligence Sources' developed there in late 1980s and '90s and continued to keep them on the books to monitor dissident and criminal activity.

Covert

The Special Forces Reconnaissance Unit (SRR) tasked with assisting the SAS and specialists in covert surveillance is still working for the PSNI.
They were deployed in Northern Ireland from 2009 to gather intelligence on dissident republicans.

MI5 claims that the dissident threat is on a par with that from Muslim extremists on the UK and it has never relinquished its hold on sources and undercover secret agents in the heart of the IRA border strongholds.

Today Bandit Country remains a valley of squinting windows, where outsiders are left under no illusion that they are not welcome and where the flourishing diesel smuggling industry has given a prosperity out of sync with the rest of the country.
The heat on both sides of the Border has threatened this illicit cottage industry and could represent the greatest threat to the Omerta that normally operates in this part of the world.

Today, Garda Donohoe's family, his widow Caroline and two young children, Amy and Niall,will attend his month's mind mass at St Joseph's Redemptorist Church in Dundalk, where Father Michael Cusack will again appeal to people to examine their conscience and come forward with information.

nicola.tallant@sundayworld.com

A GANG boss exposed in last week's Sunday World wanted to be sent to jail because so many people want to whack him.

We revealed that 23-year-old Declan Tynan is the head of a ruthless mob of 35 criminals based in St Vincent Street in Dublin 8.

However because the thug was due in court for selling drugs to an undercover cop, we had to blur his face.

He has now pleaded guilty to the possession of heroin with the intent of sale and supply and asked the judge to send him to jail because his life is under threat. He is not due to be sentenced until May, but will spend the next few months behind bars.

Tynan and his crew have been involved in two bitter disputes with rival criminals.

There have been dozens of violent incidents linked to a row with Paul Geraghty, the new partner of Brian Rattigan's former partner Natasha McEnroe.

The gangs have been fighting with each other for several years due to a petty dispute that has escalated out of control. Geraghty narrowly avoided an assasination bid two years ago after shots were fired at his car on Charlemount Street. Detectives believe that associates of Tynan were involved.


Ambushed

Tynan's men have also been blamed for setting up criminal Declan O'Reilly to be murdered last September and pals of O'Reilly have sworn revenge.

Tynan's family home was recently targeted in a fake pipe bomb incident that gardai believe is directly linked to the murder of O'Reilly.
Tynan is said to be under extreme pressure and feels that he will be safer in jail. However, it is likely that he will have to go into protective custody.

His gang is one of six new outfits operating in Dublin 8. Around 200 young men are involved in the mobs, which have now taken over from the 'Fat' Freddie Thompson and Brian Rattigan gangs.
Tynan had been one of the main targets of an elite new anti-gangland unit operating out of Kevin Street Garda Station.

Evidence was heard this week of how Tynan was nabbed by gardai in an under-cover sting atthe Vincent Street flats in March 2011.

Gardai had intelligence that Tynan was selling drugs out of the flat and had a phone number used by the mob to do deals.

An undercover garda rang the number and said he had €500 and wanted to buy drugs.Tynan's pal Karl Fish answered the phone and said he would "sort out" the officer.

Gormless

The officers went to the flats complex and heard a whistle from an upstairs corridor. Tynan gave them a bag of heroin, but bizarrely forgot to take any money from them.

As the undercover cops left, he said: "Ring me any time, that's the best gear around".
Both he and Fish were later arrested and charged, and pleaded guilty this week.

Tynan's solicitor tried to paint him as a gormless idiot, saying he was "an amateur and something of a fool". However gardai say he is far from a fool and is not to be underestimated.

He has 21 previous convictions including one for robbing a headshop just yards from his own home. The court heard he was "near to death's door" six months ago after overdosing on cocaine. He agreed to undergo regular drugs tests in prison between now and May.

Good stuff Don.

TO MOST serving Gardai, the names Eddie Fitzmaurice and Ronan MacLochlainn either mean absolutely nothing,or are at best are vaguely familiar.

However, they are names that should be foremost in their minds as they face into the prospect of, once again,going on strike and leaving the country almost totally defenceless.

Darkest

Make no mistake about it, what is being bandied about and contemplated is an actual strike,although those who take an active part in it will still receive their wages for that same day.

When asked, after 39 years in An Garda Siochana, what my darkest day on the job was, I respond by saying that participation, however involuntary, in the Blue Flu of May 1, 1998, was that day. Peer pressure, and nothing else, drove myself and over 90 per cent of the force to ring in 'sick' that morning.

Eddie Fitzmaurice, a widower in his eighties, was last seen alive as he locked up his drapery shop at Bellaghy, Charlestown, at 8pm on Blue Flu Friday, May 1, 1998.

Over the next few days, customers, friends and associates noticed that the shop had not been reopened. Alerted by a family member, Gardai forced entry to Eddie's
living quarters above the shop on May 6, some five days later.

They found his semi-nude body in the front bedroom of the house. He was bound and gagged. His body bore the signs of a beating.
It would later be estimated that it could have taken the frail pensioner three days to crawl from the back bedroom where he had been assaulted to the front room where he tried to alert passers-by.

Years later, I was the sergeant in charge of the Garda Cold Case Unit who undertook a review of that unsolved homicide.
Person after person we spoke too recalled, some 12 years later, how on that same night they had locked themselves into their homes as van-loads of thugs roamed freely up and down the streets of our cities and towns.

Subversive

Ronan MacLochlainn, a native of Ballymun, Dublin, and a member of a subversive organisation, would be shot dead in a shoot-out between members of the Garda Emergency
Response Unit and a six-strong,heavily-armed gang they intercepted attempting to rob a cash-in-transit security van on the main Dublin to Wexford Road just outside

Ashford in County Wicklow on that same Blue Flu Friday.
The loss of any life is regrettable,but I for one could never have forgiven myself if it had been a Garda who was shot because he had no back-up as his colleagues were off 'sick'.

Permission had to be actually sought in advance from the Association to allow those Gardai involved in the shoot-out to work on that particular day.

Throughout that long day of May 1, 1998, the country was put in fear as the vast majority of Gardai withdrew services. We were left unprotected except for those members of Sergeant and Inspector rank whose representatives had not recognised the strike.

Over the last few weeks, we have wit-nessed the cold- blooded murder of one of our colleagues, Adrian Donohoe, who was gunned down by a gang of armed thugs.

Throughout my service, I had attended the funerals of six colleagues gunned down in the service of our society. An Garda Siochana is a very small family and four of those who gave their lives were known to me.
However, I have never witnessed such outpourings of support among the public for Gardai as that which followed the most recent murder.
We have also witnessed the closure of almost 100 rural Garda Stations in recent weeks.

Pride

It has been a source of pride to me to watch community groups calling for these stations to be reopened. The praise for both the sense of security and high standard of service that people felt from a local Garda presnee was over-whelming.

The Blue Flu of May 1998 did a lot of damage to the public's perception of the Gardai. In a single day,years of loyal service, of dedication and of sacrifice, were swept aside as Gardai left vulnerable people alone and without protection.

The damage that this action did is only now fading. The support and encouragement received over the last few weeks is evidence of this.
However, here we go, once again allowing a faction in An Garda Siochana to push all its members to the brink of industrial action.

I can appreciate that it is difficult to stand aside and watch the erosion of hard-earned allowances. It is equally as hard to accept what is being done to our pension, a pension fund that I contributed too over 39 years.

I have, however, news for my former colleagues and their representatives, some of whom occupied the same positions in that body at the last Blue Flu, that, to many in our society, the Gardai and, indeed the Civil Service as a whole, are not too badly paid at all.

Since retiring, I have been working in a drop-in facility in Dublin's city centre where we feed an average of 500 homeless and marginalised people six days a week.
To those people the pay and conditions enjoyed by the Civil Service looks very, very attractive indeed.
I would appeal to all my former colleagues to step back and not to make the same mistake we did.

Don't let yourselves be led or pushed down a road that, I honestly believe, 99 per cent of you never want to tread.

http://www.herald.ie/news/gardai-plan-more-arrests-in-donohoe-murder-probe-29092535.html

Ken Foy Crime correspondent – 25 February 2013 10:40 AM

GARDAI expect to make more arrests in the coming days as part of their massive investigation into the murder of Detective Adrian Donohoe.

Sources say that "significant progress" has been made in the month-long probe but gardai are "a good bit away" from being able to press charges in the case.

Two men arrested last Thursday and questioned about the robbery of the stolen getaway car that was used in the shocking slaying at the Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth were released over the weekend.

A file on them will now be prepared for the DPP.

They are not suspected of direct involvement in the murder but are thought to have some knowledge of the criminals who stole the navy-coloured VW Passat that was used by the gang.

Justice

Yesterday, a crowd of mourners packed into St Joseph's Redemptorist Church in Dundalk to support his heartbroken widow Caroline Donohoe, her two children, Niall and Amy, Adrian's parents, Hugh and Peggy, and the extended family.

Celebrating the month's mind Mass, Fr Cusack told the family that he knew of the "wonderful, generous outpouring towards them".

"If people could change things they would," he added.

However, he said that as a society, we would not tolerate violence and that "we won't hide people that need to be brought to justice".

"Nobody should dare pervert the course of justice, if finding justice could bring peace and resolution to ease the pain the family were being forced to endure," he added.

The journey being endured by the family and the investigating team working so hard since the brutal murder felt very lonely at times and very crowded at others, he said.

The "amazing turnout" at the Mass showed the honour in which the murdered detective garda was held but it also demonstrated the respect felt by the community for peace and justice, said Fr Cusack.

A five-man cross-border gang is suspected of being involved in the €4,000 robbery which led to Detective Donohoe being murdered in cold blood.

Among this gang are two reckless criminal brothers from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, as well as the chief suspect for shooting the detective.

The chief suspect is on bail in relation to serious charges in the North.

kfoy@herald.ie

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0225/369566-two-charged-ira/

Two Cork men have appeared before a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court charged with membership of the IRA and firearms offences.
Brian Walsh, 43, and Anthony Carroll, 30, were arrested on Saturday afternoon in the Dean Rock area of Togher by detectives from Togher Garda Station as part of an investigation in to the activities of dissident republicans.
Mr Walsh, with an address at Connolly Road, Ballyphehane, and Mr Carroll of Curaheen Close, Bishopstown, were both charged before the non-jury court with membership of an unlawful organisation within the State styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on 23 February 2013.
The pair were charged with the unlawful possession of a Walther PI 9mm calibre semi-automatic pistol and a Smith & Wesson .22mm Magnum calibre revolver with the serial number AEM 2000 at Deanrock Avenue, Togher, on the same date.
The men were also charged with the unlawful possession of a magazine together with six rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition suitable for use with the Walther pistol, and six rounds of .22 long rifle rounds of ammunition suitable for use in a Smith & Wesson .22 magnum calibre revolver at the same address on the same date.
Detective Garda Barry Duggan told State Solicitor Mr Liam Mulholland that he formally arrested Brian Walsh shortly before 4pm today on Tramore Road, Cork.
He told Mr Mulholland that at the time of the arrest he believed the accused man had committed the offences of which he is charged.
Det Garda Duggan said that he explained to Mr Walsh the reason for his arrest in ordinary language and cautioned him.
He said the accused man, who appeared before the non-jury court dressed in a fawn jacket and dark trousers, replied "I was expecting this" to the caution.
Detective Brendan Murray told Mr Mulholland that he formally arrested Anthony Carroll shortly before 4pm this afternoon in Cork city.
He said that Mr Carroll, who appeared before the court dressed in red Munster rugby jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms, made no reply after caution.
There was no application for bail and Mr Mulholland said the State wished to reserve its position with regard to legal aid.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge Margaret Heneghan and Judge Flannan Brennan, remanded both men in custody with liberty to apply for bail to appear in front of the court on 5 March.

Woman injured in bomb blast in north Belfast
Updated: 13:30, Monday, 25 February 2013

Woman injured in bomb blast in north Belfast.


A woman was injured in a bomb attack on a house in north Belfast last night.
The woman, who is 44, sustained cuts to her leg when the device was thrown at the front door of her home in the Greencastle area.
Two dogs were also injured in the attack.
Police have appealed for information about a dark coloured car seen driving away from the incident.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-stop-men-on-way-to-gun-attack-29091610.html

Gardai 'stop men on way to gun attack.

NIALL O'CONNOR – 25 FEBRUARY 2013

GARDAI believe two men arrested over the weekend were intercepted moments before they were about to carry out a gun attack.

Detectives from Togher garda station in Cork city were on patrol when they spotted a suspicious van. According to sources, they knew the occupants of the vehicle to be members of a subversive splinter group of the IRA.

The gardai stopped the van and discovered two handguns and a 10-gallon drum of petrol during a search.

It is thought that the men were on their way to attack a house in the area. They were arrested and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2013/0225/breaking43.html

Two Cork men have appeared before a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court tonight charged with membership of the IRA and firearms offences.

Brian Walsh (43) and Anthony Carroll (30) were arrested on Saturday afternoon in the Dean Rock area of Togher by detectives from Togher Garda Station as part of an investigation in to the activities of dissident republicans.

Mr Walsh, with an address at Connolly Road, Ballyphehane, and Mr Carroll, of Curraheen Close, Bishopstown, were both charged before the non-jury court with membership of an unlawful organisation within the State styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on February 23rd, 2013.

The pair were charged with the unlawful possession of a Walther PI 9mm calibre semi-automatic pistol and a Smith & Wesson .22mm Magnum calibre revolver with the serial number AEM 2000 at Deanrock Avenue, Togher, on the same date.

The men were also charged with the unlawful possession of a magazine together with six rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition suitable for use with the Walther pistol, and six rounds of .22 long rifle rounds of ammunition suitable for use in a Smith & Wesson .22 magnum calibre revolver at the same address on the same date.

Detective Garda Barry Duggan told State Solicitor Mr Liam Mulholland that he formally arrested Brian Walsh shortly before four o?clock this afternoon on Tramore Road, Cork.

He told Mr Mulholland that at the time of the arrest he believed the accused man had committed the offences of which he is charged.

Det Gda Duggan said that he explained to Walsh the reason for his arrest in ordinary language and cautioned him. He said the accused man, who appeared before the non-jury court dressed in a fawn jacket and dark trousers, replied ?I was expecting this? to the caution.

Detective Brendan Murray told Mr Mulholland that he formally arrested Anthony Carroll shortly before 4pm today in Cork city.

He said that Mr Carroll, who appeared before the court dressed in red Munster rugby jacket and grey tracksuit bottoms, made no reply after caution.

There was no application for bail and Mr Mulholland said the State wished to reserve its position with regard to legal aid.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Paul Butler, sitting with Judge Margaret Heneghan and Judge Flannan Brennan, remanded both men in custody with liberty to apply for bail to appear in front of the court on March 5th.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0226/369751-belfast-rocket-launcher/

Rocket launcher recovered by PSNI in Belfast.

Police in Northern Ireland have recovered a rocket launcher and a warhead during a search of a house in west Belfast.
The search, at Hawthorn Street, was carried out as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity.
The rocket launcher and warhead have been taken away for forensic examination.
A police spokesperson said: "These weapons systems are clearly intended to kill and we should be in no doubt that the recovery of these items has saved lives."

http://www.herald.ie/news/hammer-is-found-at-scene-where-garda-donohoe-murdered-29095713.html

Hammer is found at scene where Garda Donohoe murdered.

Ken Foy Crime correspondent – 26 February 2013 10:40 AM

GARDAI found a hammer at the scene where a five-man gang murdered Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, it has emerged.

Sources say that officers are "very confident" that the hammer was used by the gang when they carried out the €4,000 robbery at the Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth last month.

Detectives are now examining the hammer for vital fingerprint or DNA evidence as the investigation into the savage January 25 murder continues.

Details of this aspect of the investigation, along with other leads, will be outlined at a press conference this afternoon.

Two senior officers – Assistant Commissioner Kieran Kenny and Superintendent Gerard Curley – will reveal the new lines of inquiry before renewing their public appeal.

Two men arrested and questioned last Thursday about the stolen getaway car were released over the weekend.

A file on them will now be prepared for the DPP.

They are not suspected of direct involvement in the murder but are thought to have knowledge of the criminals who stole the navy-coloured VW Passat that was used by the gang.

It is understood that the PSNI have quizzed a number of the gang believed to have been involved in the detective's murder, including a young woman who provided an alibi for her boyfriend.



Assault

This man is suspected of being at the scene on the night of the murder. He also faces serious charges in the north and is on bail. He is also on bail in the south in relation to charges of assault.

He is the chief suspect for organising and participating in a raid on the Lordship Credit Union in 2011 which gangsters escaped with €62,000 in cash.

It is understood that Detective Donohoe personally questioned the suspect on a number of occasions. Two brothers from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, are also in the frame.

http://www.herald.ie/news/cctv-shows-final-minutes-of-gun-victims-29095724.html

Clodagh Sheehy – 26 February 2013 10:40 AM

DRAMATIC footage of the last minutes in the lives of two Dublin men gunned down in the city is to be featured in tonight's Crimecall.

Christopher Warren (35) was dropped off at St James Hospital with fatal gunshot wounds on December 28 and Christopher McDonagh (27) was shot dead in his Clondalkin home On September 9, 2008.

CCTV footage of Warren being dumped at the hospital and of McDonagh's killers arriving at his home will be shown on the RTE programme.

Warren, from Theresa's Gardens in Dublin, was shot in a lane near Constitution Hill in Broadstone in Dublin city centre before being taken by car and dropped off at the hospital.

Warren's younger brother Paul (24) became one of the first victims of the Crumlin/ Drimnagh feud when he was shot dead in a south inner city pub in February 2004.

Christopher Warren was not a gangland criminal but was a prolific burglar, who was well known to gardai and had dozens of convictions dating from the mid-1990s.

Gardai believe he had been drinking and gambling in the Meath Street area the afternoon of his death.

Some time after 6pm an associate said he found Warren on the ground, brought him to the hospital and left him there.

The programme has CCTV footage of the car arriving at the hospital and gardai are appealing to the public to help them with their investigation.

Christopher McDonagh was shot dead at home in Woodavens estate in Ronanstown, West Dublin, and the CCTV footage, which will be shown for the first time, shows the gunmen arriving at the house.

Gardai believe the second-hand car dealer was shot after falling foul of a drug trafficker.

McDonagh was shot in his bedroom and, despite being badly wounded, made his escape through a window on to the roof of the front porch and then jumped on to the bonnet of his car

His attackers pumped at least four more shots into McDonagh before he reached his front gate.

The two men made their getaway in a dark coloured saloon- car, with a taxi sign on the roof.

McDonagh was linked in the past to a number of major criminal players in west and south Dublin and had reached a settlement for an estimated €110,000 with the Criminal Assets Bureau, in 2006.

Crimecall will be broadcast tonight at 10.35pm on RTE One
- See more at: http://www.herald.ie/news/cctv-shows-final-minutes-of-gun-victims-29095724.html#sthash.HCNHWT5F.dpuf

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0227/369924-shotguns-ammunition-school/

Shotguns and ammunition recovered by gardaí on roof of Dublin school.

Gardaí have recovered three shotguns and a small quantity of ammunition during a search at a national school on Basin Lane, Dublin 8.

The searches were carried out following reports of suspicious activity in the school grounds in the last number of days.

Gardaí discovered the firearms, which were wrapped in plastic, on the roof of the school at about 11.30am.

The area was immediately sealed off for a forensic technical examination before the guns were removed for further examination.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Kilmainham Garda station on 01 666 9700.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0228/369959-two-suspected-devices-found-in-co-limerick/

A man in his 40s has been arrested after two suspicious objects were found in a house in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, last night.
He is being questioned at Newcastle West Garda Station.
The devices, which were later declared non-viable, were discovered in rented accommodation on Maiden Street in the town just after 10pm.
A number of local residents were forced to leave their homes and had to stay in a nearby hotel.
The street was sealed off by gardaí as a precaution, but has since been reopened.
Army bomb disposal personnel also attended the scene.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0228/370078-cork-conspiracy-arrest/

A former politician is being questioned by gardaí in Co Cork, after he was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Detectives are understood to have been acting on information when they arrested the man near Cork city this morning.
He was taken to a garda station in Cork, where he is currently being detained.
He can be held for up to a week.
The man is being detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act.
RTÉ News understands that the man is being questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to murder three people.

http://www.herald.ie/news/chilling-cctv-of-killers-outside-victims-house-29100974.html

Chilling CCTV of killers outside victim's house.

Ken Foy Crime correspondent – 28 February 2013 10:40 AM

THESE chilling CCTV images show two gangland assassins outside the Dublin home of the man they are about to murder.


Christopher 'Git' McDonagh was watching TV in his bedroom at 11.50pm on Tuesday, September 9, 2008, when the two gunmen struck and shot him in front of his girlfriend.

The 27-year-old jumped from the upstairs window in an attempt to escape the attackers but was shot dead in the garden.

Mr McDonagh's killers arrived at the property in Ronanstown in a dark-coloured saloon car that had a taxi plate on the roof.

The chilling gangland assassination was witnessed by Mr McDonagh's partner.

The CCTV images were featured on RTE's Crimecall programme this week on what would have been McDonagh's 32nd birthday.

The images, which have never been released before, come from cameras installed at the victim's home.

Car dealer Mr McDonagh knew that his life was in danger and that is why he had CCTV installed at his home at Woodavens Estate – just yards from Ronanstown Garda Station.

It's not clear why the images were not previously released in the hunt for McDonagh's killers.

McDonagh had received an official warning that there was an active threat against his life just weeks before being murdered.

He had been linked to a number of major criminal players all over Dublin and had reached a settlement for an estimated €110,000 with the Criminal Assets Bureau, in 2006.

Sources say that gardai have worked on the theory that McDonagh was shot after being blamed for giving information about the massive drugs bust that led to the downfall of Martin 'Marlo' Hyland's empire and indeed Marlo's death in December, 2006.

Three men are currently serving lengthy jail sentences when they were snared after a massive operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit at Browns Barn, south county Dublin, on July 31, 2006.

More than €2m worth of cannabis resin was seized by gardai in 14 boxes split between a Ford Transit van and an Opel Astra car in Browns Barn public house car park.

A senior source said: "This bust led to huge paranoia in Hyland's gang. It was just one of many operations against his crew as part of Operation Oak but it was the final straw for some of his key lieutenants who were convinced that Hyland was ratting on them to gardai."

kfoy@herald.ie
-

http://www.herald.ie/news/rattigan-gang-guns-in-school-29100964.html

Rattigan gang guns in school.

8 February 2013 10:40 AM

GANGSTERS stored three shotguns and ammunition on the roof of a Dublin primary school.


Detectives believe that the haul belongs to a gang of young hoods that includes Aaron Rattigan, a cousin of jailed gangster ‘King Ratt’.

Gardai made the shocking discovery at the Mhathair De school on Basin Lane in Dublin's south inner city after reports of suspicious activity.

A source said: “This is a very worrying trend – a pipe bomb was found at a school in Crumlin only a few weeks ago.

“These guns were controlled by a new breed of gangsters involved in feuding in the south inner city.

“They are highly dangerous and very erratic and worse than anything that came before them.”

The weapons were being forensically examined today.

One concerned local man told the Herald: “It’s sickening. Any child who might have climbed onto the roof to get a football could have found the guns.”

Local people have condemned the incredibly dangerous practice of hiding guns and ammunition so close to children.

Parent Jason Leahy (36) said today: "I'm sickened by what has happened and I'm even tempted to bring my child home."

Ann Maghan (42) added: "The people who did this should be locked up in jail, it's really frightening."

Another furious woman said: "It's disgraceful. Kids could have climbed up and found the guns. When my own daughter was 11, she found a handgun at the local football pitch.

"She took the gun away from a three-year-old child who picked it up. My daughter gave the gun to the gardai and they gave her an award. It's just terrible. This place is getting like the Bronx."

School principal Noreen Flynn said: "At no point were the children in any danger. We monitor our children very carefully. It is unfortunate that this has happened.

"We have received assurances from the gardai that they were be monitoring the school carefully and we are reassured by this."

She said incident has reflected the reality of what is happening in society but that there was no way the children would ever get on to a roof in the school.

"The children are very happy here. It's an oasis in the community," Ms Flynn said.

Officers from Kilmainham Garda Station discovered the shotgun cartridges and guns during the planned search.

They suspect that the criminal behind the cache are a new breed of gangsters. The are looking closely at pals of Aaron Rattigan (22), who is the first cousin of jailed heroin kingpin and convicted murderer Brian 'King Ratt' Rattigan.

He is under active death threat from rival mobs as well as the IRA, who have been demanding extortion money from him.

Last month, a criminal gang targeted his family home when a pipe bomb exploded on the windowsill of the house.

The bomb's main component flew across the street and smashed through a neighbour's front window.

No one was injured but a number of families were evacuated from their homes in Hanover Street.

This was not the first time that Aaron's home was targeted – petrol bombs were thrown at it on October 24 last year.

On Tuesday, at Cloverhill District Court, a teenager was jailed for nine months in relation to this incident.

Tony Dempsey (18) claimed he had control of the explosive device due to an ongoing feud in the area.

Judge Grainne Malone said the charge was very serious and she sentenced Dempsey to nine months detention.

Dempsey, of no fixed abode but from the New Cabra Road area, Dublin 7, admitted before Cloverhill District Court to having control of an explosive petrol bomb and components.



feud

Garda Sergeant Brendan Stynes said there is an ongoing feud between gangs in the south inner city and it was believed that Dempsey was involved in it.

It has previously been reported that there are six major gangs with 186 members affiliated to them operating in the south inner city. Sources say that Aaron Rattigan is strongly connected to one of these mobs.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0304/371943-paul-cullen-cabra/

Post mortem on body after Dublin pub shooting.

Paul Cullen was shot dead in Cabra last night Paul Cullen was shot dead in Cabra last night

A post mortem will be carried out today on the body of a man shot dead in a pub in Dublin last night.

Paul Cullen, 25, died after he was shot several times at The Cabra House pub shortly after 7pm.

Gardaí in Cabra are now trying to establish a motive for the murder, but believe it is connected to the victim's involvement in crime.

Mr Cullen had previous convictions for drug dealing and assault and had been warned that his life was in danger.

Two gunmen escaped on a motorbike after last night's shooting.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0304/371916-two-arrests-in-derry-security-alert/

Derry bombs had potential 'to cause mass fatalities'.

The PSNI has confirmed that four live mortar bombs with the potential to cause mass fatalities were discovered in a van in Derry last night.

Up to 100 families were evacuated from their homes in the Brandywell area overnight as a result.

Police are continuing to question three men in their 30s about the incident.

PSNI Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin said officers stopped a white van on the Letterkenny road, close to the Co Donegal border, at approximately 8.15pm last night.

A man in the van was arrested and a man on a motorcycle travelling directly behind the van was also held.

Chief Supt Gargin said: "Police then found a white van with the roof open with four live mortar bombs primed and ready to go in that van.

"We believe that those weapons were destined for a police station somewhere in the Derry area and that they were designed to cause mass casualties or mass fatalities," he added.

Two of the men in custody are aged 37 and the other is 35.

A petrol bomb and missiles were thrown at police as evacuations of over 100 homes were carried out.

PSNI detectives dealing with the incident are linking it to dissident Republican activities.

http://www.thestar.ie/star/drug-dealer-paul-cullen-shot-dead-in-gang-hit/

Drug dealer Paul Cullen shot dead in gang hit.

Gardai were last night hunting two gunmen after a convicted criminal was blasted to death as he enjoyed a pint.

Paul Cullen (25) — who had only recently been released from jail after serving time for drugs offences and for brutally assaulting an unarmed garda — was gunned down as he drank in the Cabra House pub in north Dublin just after 7pm.

Detectives believe he was killed by former associates of slain crime boss Eamonn Dunne.

And an underworld source last night claimed that Cullen may have been killed “because he tried to muscle in on his old patch after his release before Christmas.”

It is known that he’d previously been warned by officers that his life was in grave danger.

“He was a dangerous criminal and would have had a lot of enemies,” one source revealed.

Dad-of-one Cullen was shot several times when he was attacked by two masked gunmen at 7.10pm at the pub on Fassaugh Avenue in Cabra — close to his own home.

Punters dived for cover as the two gunmen carried out the assassination before escaping on a motorbike.

Sources say that Cullen had entered the pub just minutes before he was shot in a hail of bullets — at least six times.

Cullen is believed to have been released from prison last November after serving a six year term for drugs offences and an extra 18 months for assaulting a garda.

Cullen, then 21, and his cousin Carl Cullen, then 20, of Dingle Rd, Cabra, pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Amanda Lynch on November 30, 2007.

Paul Cullen also pleaded guilty to taking possession of an official Garda weapon, and Carl also pleaded guilty to assaulting student Garda Zhihao Weng on the same date.

The Central Criminal Court heard that the gardai were attempting to arrest a youth on Fassaugh Avenue when the Cullens approached.

Paul took Gda Lynch’s official weapon, an extendable baton, hitting her until she fell down, and kicked her in the stomach.

His cousin Carl then assaulted student Garda Weng.

Paul Cullen was then jailed in February 2008 for six years after he admitted possessing €56,000 worth of cannabis resin.

He said he agreed to mind the drugs after he received a bullet in the post — and said the attack on the gardai happened when he was under stress from the drugs charge.

Gardai from Cabra station investigating last night’s murder have appealed for witnesses to contact them on 01 666 7400.

http://www.thestar.ie/star/trio-admits-attack-on-fat-freddie-thompsons-brother/

A man who took part in a “savage attack” on the brother of gangster ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson has been jailed for nine months.

Portlaoise resident Kenneth Roche (22), formerly of Abbotstown Avenue, Finglas, admitted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder at the Karma Stone pub in Dublin’s Wexford St on March 13, 2011.

Roche was part of a gang that punched and kicked Richard Thompson as he lay on the ground, as two feuding gangs met by chance in the pub.

The victim has no connection to the feud and has not come to the attention of gardai.

Co-accused Kristle Nolan (28), of Lorcan O’Toole Park, Kimmage, admitted violent disorder and received a nine-month term suspended for three years.

Kristle’s sister Danielle Nolan (22), of The Oaks, Kilnacourt, Portarlington, admitted affray, and received a nine-month term suspended for three years.

The court heard one attacker smashed a glass into the victim’s face and the victim fell to the floor.

A doorman said two men joined in and all three began “laying into” him.

Kristle Nolan was seen breaking a bottle and swinging it at another woman.

She and her sister Danielle were seen dragging and pulling others.

Gardai said the three accused are associates of people in the feud, but not directly involved.

http://www.thestar.ie/star/criminal-paul-cullen-shot-dead-in-boozer-crossed-drug-gang/

Convicted criminal Paul Cullen was shot three times in the head in front of his own father for daring to cross one of Ireland’s most deadly gangs, gardai believe.

Sources told The Star that gardai suspect Paul Cullen — who was officially warned that his life was at risk just a few months ago — was shot dead by members of the gang formerly controlled by Eamonn “The Don” Dunne.

Although Dunne (34) was himself killed in April 2010, his gang still has a stranglehold over Cabra, north Dublin — where Cullen (25) was shot dead on Sunday night.

And sources have told The Star that gardai believe former associates of Dunne killed Cullen because he was trying to set up his own drugs scam in the area.

One source said: “Dunne’s gang are the major players in Cabra and they could not let Cullen muscle in on their operation.

“They are the main focus of the inquiry.”

Cullen was an associate of Dunne until he was locked up in February 2008 after he was caught minding €56,000 worth of cannabis resin for the mobster’s gang.

Once he got out of prison in June last year — after also serving a jail term for attacking two unarmed gardai — he made efforts to set up his own drugs operation in Cabra.

But former associates of Dunne refused to yield to him and tried to murder Cullen in July last year.

A gunman attacked the father-of-one as he approached a house in Cabra — but the gun jammed and he was able to escape.

He was then given a so-called GIM — or Garda Information Message — warning him that detectives had information that his life was still at risk.

And the gang finally caught up with Cullen on Sunday evening as he enjoyed a pint with his father, Paul McCann, and other family members in the Cabra House Pub — close to his Fassaugh Avenue home.

A lone gunman calmly walked into the pub at 7pm, singled out Cullen and shot him six times — including three times in the head.

Punters threw missiles at the gunman as he walked out of the pub — but he still managed to escape.

Gardai and paramedics rushed to the pub, but Cullen died at the scene.

Garda press officer, Superintendent David Taylor, described the capital’s latest gangland-style attack as a callous and brutal murder of a young man in a public place.

“There were a number of people in the pub at the time and, as you can imagine, when we got there it was a pretty chaotic scene and people were obviously fleeing for their own safety,” Supt Taylor continued.

“So we are asking anyone who may have been in the pub at the time, or in the hours beforehand, to come forward.”

The senior garda revealed that members of the Cullen family were among about 20 customers in the bar on Fassaugh Avenue, off the Navan Road, and were traumatised by the shooting.

“It was pretty traumatic to witness such a callous and brutal murder,” Supt Taylor said.

Deputy State Pathologist Khalid Jabbar carried out a post-mortem on the remains last night, while forensic officers continued to examine the scene, where flowers have been left with a card reading “You’ll never walk alone”.

Detectives were also trawling through CCTV from in and around the bar to piece together the movements of the motorbike used as the getaway vehicle.

They appealed to motorists and pedestrians who saw a medium-sized bike being driven erratically from the bar, which is also known as the Oasis, to try and establish what route it took through evening traffic.

Anyone who has since seen a motorbike being dumped is also urged to contact gardai in Cabra.

The victim was known to gardai and was previously connected with a gang run by Dunne, who was shot dead in the nearby Fassaugh House Pub in April 2010.

In February 2008 Cullen was sentenced to six years for storing almost €56,000 of cannabis resin in his home to clear drug debts — as he was in fear of his life after receiving a bullet in the post.

While awaiting sentence, Cullen and a relative were arrested for assaulting a female garda, whom he kicked in the stomach.

He was later jailed for three years, with the last 18 months suspended, to run consecutive to the six-year sentence.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/you...e-29116901.html

TOM BRADY, CORMAC MCQUINN AND FERGUS BLACK – 08 MARCH 2013

A YOUNG man has been shot and seriously injured in the third gun attack this week.


The 20-year-old was shot several times in a housing estate in Clondalkin, west Dublin, at around 7pm yesterday.

The victim, who is believed to be from the Ronanstown area, was taken to Tallaght Hospital where his condition was last night described as serious.

A local woman who called the emergency services after the shooting said the young man was leaning into a car window at Moorefield Avenue when a number of shots rang out and he fell backwards.

"I think he must have known them because he was leaning in and talking to the people inside," she told the Irish Independent.

"I said to my son to run over, they're after shooting him. I called an ambulance and I went over to see if he was alive. They (the emergency services) asked me to check his pulse to see if he was alive. I checked and said I thought he was but to send somebody quick.

"This is the second young fellow to get shot around here. We're sick of it. It's getting worse."

A car which may have been used as a getaway vehicle was found in the Woodview area nearby. Gardai at Ronanstown have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

Dissident

Last night's shooting was the third gun attack – two of them fatal – in a week.

Only 24 hours earlier, leading dissident republican Peter Butterly (35) was shot dead outside the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath.

And on Sunday, criminal Paul Cullen (26) was shot dead as he sat drinking in the Cabra House pub in Fassaugh Avenue in Cabra, northwest Dublin.

A masked man burst into the public house in front of terrified patrons at the venue also knows as the Oasis and fired numerous shots at the target. It was speculated that Cullen was killed over a drug debt dating back as far as 2007.

killed for 'pocketing funds'

THREE men appeared in court last night charged in connection with the murder of Real IRA boss Peter Butterly.

Dean Evans (22), of Grange Park Rise, Raheny, David Cullen (28), of Brackenwood Avenue,Balbriggan, Co Dublin, and Edward McGrath (31), of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght,were charged before the Special Criminal Court with possession of an illegal firearm at the scene of the murder in Gormanstown, Co Meath last Wednesday.
All three were charged with the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi automatic pistol,

Amuunition

Evans and McGrath were also each charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself on the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann on March 6, 2013, as well as possession of seven rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the car park of The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co Meath on March 6.
The court remanded all three in custody until March 14.

The men were all detained in the car park of the Huntsman Inn pub just seconds after Butterly was gunned down. Butterly (35) was a former commander of the Real IRA in Co Louth and was one of the main targets of the Garda Special Branch.
He travelled by car to meet with four men, while a fifth man was also present at the scene.
It is believed that gardai had the suspected dissidents under surveillance and had been monitoring the meeting between the six people.

Sources say that the gardai had intelligence that a firearm was to be exchanged and immediately swooped when they heard gunshots.
Five people were arrested, including 22-year-old Dean Evans. Our exclusive photograph shows the pumped-up dissident, who was a close pal of slain RIRA godfather Alan Ryan.

Evans was snapped last year outside a memorial for Ryan in the Submarine Bar in Crumlin on Dublin's southside.Evans's brother, Daragh, is currently in Portlaoise Prison awaiting trial in connection with charges of being a member of illegal organisation, namely the IRA.

One of the five nabbed at the murder scene was Ray Kennedy. It is believed Kennedy, with .an address in Whitestown Drive, Blanchardstown, west Dublin, had travelled separately to Gormanstown on the morning of the murder.
Ironically, Kennedy (33) had himself been the victim of dissident violence after being shot in the leg last April.

He was rushed to hospital after he arrived at the Topaz service station on the Malahide Road on the city's north-side with gunshot wounds to the leg,which Gardai believe were inflicted personally by Alan Ryan.
Kennedy had links to jailed dissident David Dodrill, who was kicked out of the RIRA for misappropriating funds.
Dodrill's pals were interrogated and tortured by Ryan over the missing cash.
Kennedy was released from custody on Friday afternoon and a file will be sent to the DPP. Another man was also released from Garda custody yesterday.

Explosives

Peter Butterly had a long history of involvement in dissident republicanism,had previously been charged with Real IRA membership, and was linked to a huge explosives and arms find in 2010.
He was expelled from the organisation in recent months after being accused of pocketing funds. Butterly was sitting in his Renault Megane when two men drove into the car park and fired two shots into the car.
As Butterly struggled to get out and flee, two further shots were fired. He fell to the ground as the two men sped off, throwing a 9mm gun from the car and over a hedge.



Slain Real IRA terror boss

Peter Butterly was a chief suspect in the barbaric 2010 murder of Derryman Kieran Doherty.
Today the Sunday World can reveal that Butterly was also a business partner of Doherty's.

Kieran Doherty (31) was lured from his home in the Brandywell area of Derry on February 24, 2010.
He was taken to the Braehead Road, close to the border with Co Donegal, stripped and bound and then shot in the head and chest.

?We can reveal that on the day of Doherty's murder, Butterly called to his home and ordered him to bring all documentation relating to their business venture to a meeting that night.
A Sunday World investigation has discovered that Doherty's company, Northern Lites (NI) Ltd,a cigarette manufacturing firm, was set up in April 2009 and had a start-up capital of stg £100,000.

Doherty used a Director nominee service - a controversial-but-legal scheme whereby a company owner is not named on public company documents.
Sources have told the Sunday World that after his initial £100,000 investment Doherty pumped another £95,000 into Northern lites, for the purchase of a tobacco rolling machine from China.
_
In November 2009 Doherty told a newspaper that Mi5 had tried to recruit him as an informer.
Our investigation has found that, at the time of the interview, Peter and Eithne Butterly were the only named Directors of Northern Lites.
•
Doherty was murdered by the Real IRA after the discovery of a cannabis factory in Carrigans Co Donegal.
The drugs were found in a house owned by Real IRA man Seamus McGreevy - a friend of Butterly's.
•
Following the discovery of the drugs, both McGreevy and Doherty denied any connection to the house but two weeks later McGreevy took his own life.

"Bird-Brain Thug Feared For His Life"

A CRIMINAL who was arrested with a gun this week and was later found dead was afraid that a gangland 'Mr Big' was going to "sort him out".Jonathan 'Birdbrain' Martin was nabbed by alert traffic cops close to RTE in Dublin last Monday morning after he was driving erratically.

Gardai pulled the car in and became suspicious about his demeanour and searched the vehicle. They found a loaded, sawn-off shotgun hidden under the front passenger seat and arrested Birdbrain and an associate.

The 24-year-old became distressed in custody,saying that a well-known criminal from Co. Wicklow was going to be furious about the arrest.
Martin and his pal had carried out a shooting in Wicklow an hour before they were arrested over what is believed to have been an unpaid debt.

Drugs

Mr Big ordered the shooting and is said to have been furious that his two goons allowed themselves to be arrested with the gun that had been used in the drive-by attack.

Martin was released from custody after a day of questioning and was so worried about what was going to happen to him at the hands of Mr Big that he overdosed on prescription drugs and died on Thursday.

Gardai initially thought that he might have been forcibly fed the drugs to stop him from talking to gardai but now believe that he was so nervous that he took a cocktail of pills by himself.

Gangland enforcer Martin was charged with threatening to burn down Arklow garda station in November 2011 after being arrested following a pub brawl.

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.

niall.donald@sundayworld.com

THIS IS the tiny key fob mobile phone that is being snapped up by criminals in a bid to beat the Irish Prison Service's multi-million euro X-ray scanners.

The Chinese-made 'BMW X6' phone is designed in the shape of a fob and is being marketed as the world's smallest mobile.

They are fully functioning phones, but look exactly like the gadgets used to open top-of-the-range cars such as BMW's.

A prison source has revealed the devices have been nicknamed 'Beat the BOSS' phones by inmates and are exchanging hands for as much as €800.
In 2008, prison chiefs installed eight Body Orifice Security Scanners- nicknamed the BOSS - in a number of Irish jails.



Detect

The high-tech X-ray scanners allow officers to detect internally con-cealed drugs and phones.

However, the key fob phones are made entirely of plastic and are not believed to be detectable by the air-port-style scanners.

The size of the mobile phones also makes them appealing for potential smugglers,as the devices have to brought into the jail internally.

A source said:
"Intelligence was received that there were two of the phones smuggled into Limerick Prison last month, they are being bought on the internet."

The BOSS chair is designed to detect items like weapons, mobile phones and drugs concealed by inmates in body cavities.
The chair includes a metal detector,which is fixed to the seat and scans the subject's body cavities in a non-intrusive manner.

But despite the introduction of the BOSS chairs, Irish jails are still awash with contraband.

In 2011, there were 1,325 drug seizures and 1,387 mobiles taken from inmates in Irish jails.
A staggering 664 were seized in Mount joy between January and September - more than two phones a day. Mount joy was also the worst drugs den with 569 cases of illegal sub-stances being smuggled in to the overcrowded jail.

Last month, mobster Brian Rattigan became the first criminal to be found guilty of directing the supply of drugs while behind bars. The Special

Criminal Court ruled that Rattigan (32) was the director of a gang behind a £1 million operation on May 21, 2008,from his cell in Portlaoise Prison.

THESE ARE the faces of Ireland's dissident war machine.

For the first time ever the Sunday World reveals the men hell-bent on terror, and their place in the dissident republican power structure.

Known as the collective leadership (CL), the top table of terrorism controls the New Real IRA -north and south - overseeing a mind-boggling all-Ireland crimi- nal empire.

Now an exclusive Sunday World investigation gets under the skin of the New Real IRA. We unmask the dissident godfathers and rip open the racketeering, counterfeiting and smuggling operations that provide the, funds needed to oil their killing machine.

In an explosive report we reveal this is an organisation determined to continue their war. Organised,well funded and with an arsenal of guns, grenades and rocket 'launchers, their blueprint is murder.

Worried

Well-known dissident Colin Duffy sits alongside Belfast man Alex McCrory and Co. Tyrone brothers-in-law Brian Arthurs and Frankie Quinn - together they are the collective leadership of this recently renamed group.

While Duffy is a major player, he is far from considered as the overall boss, as previously believed. In fact,well placed dissident sources say those close to him have become increasingly worried for his health,as he is prone to suffering from episodes of depression.

A constant target for the PSNI,Lurgan man Duffy has been arrested on numerous occasions and faced murder charges - most recently the double murder of soldiers Mark

Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar at Massereene Barracks in Antrim in 2009. Charges against him were withdrawn.

He remains an important part of the controlling structure, despite unease among active dissidents over his close relationship with republican Brendy 'Mr Bean' Conway.
Conway, from the Ardoyne in north Belfast, has a conviction in relation to a tiger kidnapping, and keeps Duffy, McCrory and the New

Real IRA supplied with cash and cars, prompting some dissidents to accuse Duffy of putting his own financial interests first.CL sidekick McCrory, a former IRA prisoner, is close to Duffy and a one-time member of Oglaigh na hEireann (OnH).

He remains, despite switching allegiance, a firm friend of west Belfast OnH chief Carl Reilly and is regularly seen in his company.McCrory, who claimed last year that MI5 tried to recruit him as a tout, was the main organiser at the funeral of murdered Real IRA chief Alan Ryan in Dublin last year. Like Duffy, he too relies on Conway for finances and enjoys the use of an Alfa Romeo car, free of charge.

The collective leadership is completed by brothers-in-law Brian Arthurs and Frankie Quinn.
The pair are founder members of the 1916 Societies, a 'political' grouping connected to the New

Real IRA, which describes itself as a "separatist movement committed to the implementation of the Proclamation of Independence".
Yet they still find time to indulge in serious criminal activity.

Arthurs was expelled from the mainstream republican movement because of his connections to criminality and recently pleaded guilty to being in possession of criminal property and £345,000 in cash, the proceeds of criminal activity.

Along with brother-in-law Quinn,the pair have strong connections to a number of southern-based smugglers, and recently had to go into hiding because of 'toxic' shampoo!
They were the laughing stock of their criminal pals last year after smuggling a container of contraband shampoo, only for their customers to sustain severe burns to their scalps!

The hunted pair were forced to change their phone numbers and keep a low profile until the embarrassing fiasco blew over.
Sensitive security documents seen by the Sunday World identify Quinn and Arthurs as paramilitary leaders.

With Duffy and McCrory they have their finger on the button of dissident terrorism and without their knowledge or say-so nothing can happen in the name of the New Real IRA.

Blackmail

Just like the OnH, they rely on criminality in the form of extorting drug dealers, blackmail and tiger kidnappings to boost their funds.

However, the New Real IRA could not operate without a network of smugglers. Through the import of guns, counterfeit money and cigarettes they supply the terror group with everything they need.

And the Sunday World dissident dossiers can reveal the identity of the crew that is helping to fund the New Real IRA's war machine.

Chief among this gang is Aiden Grew, a close associate of Arthurs and Quinn and who was also friendly with Gareth O'Connor, murdered in 2003.

A native of Blackwaters Town in County Armagh, he was given a three-year suspended sentence for his role in a massive cigarette smug- gling operation in which 15 million illegal cigarettes were recovered by the PSNI.

Grew was fined £500,000, which he initially refused to pay. A few days after being jailed his sister arrived at Maghaberry with the half a million in cash.

Philip Forsythe is the newly appointed leader of the Dublin Real IRA, one of.a number of operatives tasked with smuggling and extortion for the New Real IRA.

He replaced 'Fat Deccy' Smith after the Belfast man was accused and found guilty of withholding New Real IRA funds for his own gain and not sending them north.

Forsythe served an eight-year prison sentence after being arrested in 1998 as part of a RIRA gang in which Dublin RIRA member Ronan MacLoughlin lost his life, during an armed robbery in Co. Wicklow.

Forsythe works closely with well known Dublin criminal Pascal Burke, who is suspected of links to the men who murdered Alan Ryan. Burke works directly for the CL in the north and reports directly to Arthurs and Quinn.

Sean Connolly, currently on remand for the murder of notorious criminal Eamon Kelly, is alleged to have recently threatened to kill Burke. Burke has been given permission by the leadership to deal with Connolly "as he sees fit".

Dealer

Between Burke and Forsythe they have the Dublin criminal world under control, taking off where Ryan left off in extorting large sums of cash from drug dealers,businesses and organising robberies.

The new Derry boss is Fergal Malough, a former member of Republican Action Against

Drugs (RAAD) who is addicted to gambling and has convictions for explosives.
Along with his second in command Thomas 'Ash' Mellon, convicted for the possession of explosives,they extort money and property belonging to suspected drug dealers.

The Sunday World can reveal the new Derry boss is suspected of skimming money to pay for his habit. He also confiscated a top of the range car from a top Derry drug dealer only to give it to another dissident to drive, causing much ridicule and embarrassment to RAAD.

Gary 'Donzo' Donnelly, whose star has fallen, is still very much part of the dissident scene. Though he now holds no 'titled' position within the New Real IRA, he is still a senior member of the illegal organisation.Donnelly continues raising cash by extorting anyone who he sees as a drug dealer.

If they refuse, those accused are shot.

THIS IS the sham face of dissident republicanism.Seamus 'Shay' McGrane likes to paint himself as a dedicated freedom fighter,but in reality he is more interested in cash than a united Ireland.

To him the Border is a lifeline,lining his pockets as he preaches Irish unity.

Today the Sunday World unmasks McGrane as a money-grabbing mobster, far removed from the republican movement he claims to serve.

We can reveal how the 58-year-old lifelong activist has sold his republican soul to the highest bidder, shunning his former comrades in arms in return for a cushy cash-laden life.McGrane is jokingly described as second in command to jailed Real IRA boss Mickey McKevitt, yet instead of fighting for Ireland he is now the kingpin of one of the biggest criminal gangs in the north.

Extortion, tiger kidnappings,robberies and death threats to drug dealers, are the order of the day for fake republican McGrane.

Today the Sunday World unmasks McGrane as a fraud freedom fighter.
Convicted for running a terrorist training camp, sources believe he resides in County Louth, but his power mainly lies in the north, and with his partnership with racketeer Carl Reilly.

Sensitive

Sensitive security documents seen by the Sunday World name west Belfastman Reilly as the boss of Oglaigh na hEireann (OnH) in Belfast.
But far from being a terror boss,Reilly is known as a money-grabbing mobster working for the PSNI.

We can reveal Reilly had previously tried to join the IRA, but was rejected after being deemed an "unsuitable candidate", raising questions over his role as an alleged police tout.

Reilly, who was arrested in connection to a bomb found under a police officer's car in east Belfast earlier this year, is also the chairperson of the Republican Network for Unity (RNU).

A man with a chequered and confusing past - a former Continuity IRA member he was convicted for his role in a CIRA gun attack on Woodburn barracks in 1999. He was jailed alongside Tommy Crossan,exposed in 2009 as a police tout.

As soon as he was released Reilly joined the Real IRA, but he was followed by the finger of suspicion as charges against him for possession of terrorist documents were dropped despite his fingerprints being found on sheets of paper relating to a RIRA inquiry into the failed bomb attempt of the Tax Office in Belfast.

It is believed he had a two-hour behind bars meeting with his Special Branch/MI5 handlers before charges were dropped.
On his release he was welcomed into the OnR fold by Seamus McGrane, who saw him as his man in Belfast.This was despite advice for him to steer clear of Reilly.

It was a decision that proved extremely lucrative as OnR gained a reputation for robberies, extortion and taxing local drug dealers.

McGrane and Reilly have made personal fortunes taxing drug pushers who are told to pay up or be shot.

Crucial to the OnR money machine is Ciaran 'Pip' Cunningham, close cohort of Reilly and a spokesperson for RNU in Belfast.

Cunningham has convictions for collating information on behalf of the Real IRA and after serving a six-year term for this offence he signed up as a full-time member of Reilly's dissident gang.

Re was also arrested and questioned in August 2011 in connection to the tiger kidnapping of the family a west Belfast security van driver who was forced to hand over £200,000 for the release of his wife and young son. He was released without charge.

Both Cunningham and Reilly earn a wage working for the Conflict Resolution Service Ireland, which is based on the Falls Road in Belfast.

Lucrative

Unbelievably, Cunningham claims he provides welfare rights and advice, yet the Sunday World can reveal he has also been involved in 'helping' people who have been threatened or ordered out of the country by the OnH.
While Reilly relies heavily on Cunningham, he is not his second in command. That position is held by an Anderstown Road man, nick-named 'The Chinaman' who, for legal reasons, we are prevented naming today.

Next in line is a Turf Lodge native who now resides in the Andersonstown area. He holds the title of intelligence officer.

A drug user with mental health problems, he once attempted to take his own life by hanging, however, the rope he used was too long and all he succeeded in doing was breaking both his legs.
The title of 'Head of Recruitment'falls to another drug user and career criminal, the man who was behind a £20 Isle of Man counterfeit note seam.

And the rogue's roll call continues. 'Head of Punishment' is ironically the father of a well-known Belfast drug dealer who has links with a local heroin dealer. He was also the driving force behind a number of young career criminals joining the ranks of OnH.

It is widely believed this man, who (Continuted Below)

(CONTUNINED FROM ABOVE)

owns a number of businesses in west Belfast, only joined OnR to protect his own interests after he became the target of anti-social gangs.

Just before he offered his services graffiti labelling him a tout also appeared on gable walls.
Re has been arrested in connection to several dissident crimes, but has never been charged. Most recently he was arrested in connection with the bomb under the east Belfast officer's car, just like Reilly.

In short, the OnH is far from the 'republican army' they would have you believe; they are gangsters whose main aim is to earn as much money as they can under the guise of 'community leaders' and supporters of a united Ireland.

The money that makes its way into its coffers is helped by the current Colin Area leader Mark Heaney, who recently received a three-year suspended sentence after police raided his home and discovered a rifle. On behalf of OnR he extorts between £10,000 to £15,000 at a time from drug dealers and has taken part in punishment attacks on those who have refused to meet their demands.

Re also uses dealers in the area to pinpoint rival pushers, who Heaney will in turn also target. He was arrested in connection with the shooting of an alleged drug dealer who could not pay, but was released without charge.

At one time Heaney would have been quite happy to sit quietly as top dealers plied their trade, but the Sunday World can reveal he was pals with the likes of murdered drug thug Ed Mc Coy, Maxi McAlorum, Liam 'Fat Boy' Mooney, Frankie Turley and Studs Lanigan.

Cornrnandel's

Other areas of Belfast, including Beechmount, Turf Lodge, Whiterock,Andersonstown and Ardoyne, all operate under a similar blueprint and all have area commanders who are directly answerable to Seamus McGrane and Carl Reilly.Gary 'Beat' O'Neill is in charge of the running of the Andersonstown area.

He received a three-year suspended sentence in July 2011 after a handgun was found buried in his back garden by PSNI. It was revealed at the time that the judge decided not to send him to jail as he was the father of five children The Beechmount area is controlled by Brendan 'Shando' Shannon, a former Provo prisoner who was previously the second in command of OnR.

Yet dissident sources have revealed Shannon was demoted due to his depressive state of mind and his involvement in the Boston College interview tapes in which he was senn as passing on too much information.
And a man responsible for mugging a nun is in charge of the Whiterock area where he lives. We cannot identify him at this stage as he is currently facing charges in connection to dissident activity.

Not only does this thug get his kicks from robbing elderly nuns, but he was also responsible for a homophobic attack in west Belfast and the theft of two pensioners' life savings.The OnR leader in Turf Lodge is of no better character. Kevin Cradock, a well known joyrider, is close friends with Christopher Notarantonio, who was involved in the brutal murder of Gerard Devlin in Ballymurphy in 2006.

Like his OnH counterparts, the Turf Lodge dissident generates substantial sums of cash by threatening drug dealers and their families. One drug dealer took exception to his demands and attacked him near the shops in Turflodge. He was shot by the OnR but later joined their ranks.

The blueprint remains the same across the board. The name of the game is cash and it doesn't matter how it is raised. In the Ardoyne area of north Belfast almost 20 men have been expelled from their homes since the beginning of last year.

Former IRA man Thomas 'Ta' Cosgrove, who has convictions for explosives and used to be the boss of the OnH in the north of the city, has recently resigned due to family pressure and his alleged desire to travel the world on the fortune he amassed during his reign of terror.



Killers

His replacement is a man who was involved in the clean-up operation after the double drug fuelled killing of Continuity IRA men Ed Burns and Joe Jones. He was responsible for 'forensically cleaning' the car used by the killers.

The car belonged to 'Fat Deccy' Smith, now a current member of the Dublin Real IRA.
The question that remains on everybody's lips is how the main players of OnH continue to get away with their openly criminal lifestyles.

They operate, right under the noses of the PSNI, yet they remain free to carry out their illegal operations.
And is it just a coincidence that no members of the security forces or the police have been killed or seriously injured since Reilly came into leadership?