A YOUNG man who has been involved in a bitter personal dispute with close associates of one of the most feared gangsters in the State has been officially warned by gardai of an active threat against his life.
Officers are operating extra patrols in north Dublin as tensions continue to escalate between close associates of exiled crimelord Paschal Kelly and a minor-league criminal who is rowing with the gangsters over a woman.
Kelly's rival has already had his face slashed and cars owned by him destroyed as the row spirals out of control.
advice
A source told the Herald: "Gardai from Coolock called to the younger man's home last week and warned him that his life was in danger, as well as giving him security advice.
"He is in serious danger because of this feud and has been the victim of a number of violent incidents since this feud first kicked off in January."
Kelly's rival has links to a Coolock criminal who has been charged in relation to a 2011 drug-linked killing in Dublin's north inner city.
However, he has not been able to get the backing of the senior criminal in the bitter row because his mate is locked up in jail.
Sources say that this has left him in an "extremely vulnerable" position and cars linked to him have been badly vandalised on at least three occasions in the past number of weeks.
The violence has been happening mainly in Raheny, north Dublin and pals of the under- threat man have also been targeted, with Kelly's mob hell-bent on revenge.
One of the most serious incidents in the long-standing row occurred in May when the younger criminal was set-up and slashed in the face while he sat in a car.
He required extensive hospital treatment and needed dozens of stiches after the shocking incident which is believed to be linked to Kelly's close associates but he refused to make a complaint to gardai about it.
Sources say that his best option may now be to flee his northside home.
bother
A source said: "He is in serious bother over this - he is now the victim of a serious campaign of intimidation and violence. The criminals that he is fighting with have connections to one of the most dangerous gangs in the State and Paschal Kelly is a central figure in this crew."
On-the-run Kelly (48) is a key member of the gang gardai believe killed Real IRA chief Alan Ryan.
In February, his Cavan home was seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
He bought the bungalow in 2004 for €190,000 but it is now estimated to be worth between €250,000 and €275,000. Kelly is on the run abroad and has been described in court as playing a leading role in an organised criminal gang.
