Michael Frazier's abandoned car after the first attempt on his life


Gardai averted a double assassination of a father and son during a bizarre chase across the city involving push bikes, squad cars and the garda helicopter.

The incident kicked off on Friday afternoon in Rathmines in Dublin when a row broke out between the duo and members of a Crumlin family over a woman.

It is understood that the father and son claim they were told they were going to be killed and fled on bicycles in terror, with two cars in hot pursuit.

Both made 999 calls and told the emergency services they were being followed by men with a shotgun and a handgun – and believed they were about to be killed in broad daylight.

The garda helicopter was deployed as the chase headed across the city and out as far as Ballyfermot where the duo finally stopped.

It is understood in the early hours of yesterday morning a pipe bomb exploded and destroyed a car in the area. Officers believe that the incidents are connected but that the wrong car was targeted. An investigation was launched after a well known family in Crumlin were identified as having the firearms.

A spokesman said that Ballyfermot gardai were investigating the incident that occurred around 2pm which involved several teams of officers and the garda helicopter.

“Two males on pedal cycles alleged they were approached by a number of armed males and fled. They appear to have gone in different directions but both were pursued. They rang 999 for help and the garda Helicopter was involved from the sky,” said the spokesman.

Detectives are hoping to get to the bottom of the incident but believe it was sparked by a row between two women.

Meanwhile, a former pal of ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson is this weekend being described as the luckiest man in Ireland after miraculously escaping a second murder attempt in less than six months.



Michael Frazier (pictured above) was lured to a meeting in the car park of a pub in Firhouse, Tallaght at 6.50pm on Friday night when a masked gunman walked up to his car and tried to open fire from less than two feet away.

He pressed the trigger of a handgun three times but the weapon jammed and the astonished Frazier put the car into gear and rushed to nearby Tallaght garda station to report the incident.

However, the 34 year-old would not say who had lured him to the meeting and would not offer any information to help the investigation.

A few minutes later several people in the Allenton estate in Tallaght dialled 999 to report that two men, who were wearing balaclavas, were attempting to hijack cars.

They had abandoned the car that was used in the botched hit and set it on fire. By the time the gardai arrived they were gone and it is still unclear if they hijacked an innocent motorist to flee the area.

A semi-automatic pistol was found in the partially burnt-out car and it is hoped that gardai may be able to retrieve forensic evidence from it.

Frazier has now gone to ground and, despite surviving two bothced attempts on his life, now knows that he can trust nobody because it is the second time this year that his own friends tried to set him up to be murdered.

He was lured to a meeting in a church car park in Clondalkin on March 26 and a masked gunman then approached and fired three shots at him, hitting him in the back and legs.

However, he was able to drive his Mini Cooper onto the kerb and managed to drive himself to Clondalkin garda station. At the scene it looked like he might not survive but he made a miraculous recovery and was out of hospital in just three days.

He was set up and ambushed by the ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson mob after being accused of having an affair with the wife of a major criminal.

After initially refusing to believe that the Thompson gang had been responsible Frazier realised that his own friends were behind the incident.

He put on a brave face in public and was even dancing on pub tables showing off his scars and boasting about how he was invincible. However he knew that his falling out with the mob was permanent and they would try to come back and finish the job.

In June he was arrested in connection with a fatal hit and run. Frazier was detained for questioning about the death of Caroline Watkins who was killed while crossing the road at the Luas stop on Davitt Road in Inchicore. Frazier has denied involvement.