A man who was the victim of a gangland-style shooting has been left paralysed from the waist down as a result of the attack.

Jonathan Burke (40) was shot outside a house in the Heatherwood estate, Bray, on November 13 of last year.

A gunman fired several rounds from a shotgun at the victim, striking him six times in the upper-body as well as hitting him in the spine.

Burke miraculously survived the ordeal, but there were fears at the time that he would be permanently injured. A source told the Herald that Burke is now confirmed as being paralysed from the waist down.

He was released from prison just two weeks before the shooting, and is well-known to gardai.

Burke was one of the first prisoners to be convicted of being in possession of a mobile phone in Wheatfield prison, and was also caught trying to flee from the compound during his incarceration.

One of the most serious convictions of the former heroin addict was in April 2008, when he was jailed for five years for taking part in multiple armed robberies at pharmacies.

The main suspects for the hit that left Burke paralysed are a local drugs gang, who are led by a convicted killer.

The same gang are suspected of knee-capping a man in August of last year.

The victim, Tiernan Stokes, was shot in the back of his knees in the People’s Park in Bray.

No charges have been made in relation to the shooting of Burke, and gardai are appealing for anyone with information to contact Bray Garda Station.

20-something year old sociopathic killers being created in a place like...Ireland..Weird.

When reading about Irish OC you often come across articles on crime among Irish Travellers. But in general it seems that the majority of Traveller criminals (with several exceptions of course) are more active in stuff like burglaries, smaller robberies, fraud,...while most the really powerful criminal gangs that are involved in the more mob-like activities such as narcotics, extortion, rackets,...are not Travellers but rather come from the inner city working class districts of Dublin.

Thanks for sharing these articles by the way. Reading through it proves that Irish OC today is one of the more pervasive types in Europe.

If I remember well, Wayne Dundon claimed to be a Traveller. How serious is he considered in comparison with guys like Christy Kinahan. Are the Dundons known internationally or they don't have power outside Limerick? Just being curious.

From what I've learned the Dundons are Traveller from their mother's side. That's also where they have their connection to the McCarthy's, which is a notorious Traveller family. The Dundon's father is an East Londoner. They also lived in Hackney for quite some time before they moved to Limerick.

I don't think the Dundon-McCarthy's really had any power outside of Limerick. Sure they may have been known and within the prison they hold a reputation for violence. But to me it seems that their way of conducting business was solely based on violence. Their rivals the Keane-Collopy's on the other hand seemed to be far more professional. The Keane's were also the ones with the more important contacts for narcotics and such. The Keane-Collopy's, as far as I know, are not Travellers but come from the settled community. They grew up on the estates. Both gangs have been severely weakened now however.

But if the Keanes are the real deal, why was Christy Keane caught so foolishly, PERSONALLY delivering a sack of hashish, if I remember correctly? And why no attempt to kill any of the Dundons? I read the latest book by Paul Williams called "Murder Inc" about the Limerick gangland and it says the only serious retaliation by Christy Keane was robbing of drugs his former allies who aligned themselves with the Dundons. Also, Brian Collopy had some high-ranking Dundon/McCarthy member (forgot the name) killed by Gary Campion who switched sides. I thought when Christy Keane got out of prison there would be a river of Dundon/McCarthy blood washing the streets. Instead, nothing. The police did all the work.

I don't think either of the two gangs were all-powerful or held any influence outside of Limerick. None of them are rocket scientists. Able to control the local drug trade but that's where it stops. But compared to the Dundons, the Keane-Collopy's seem to have had the better contacts and were also far more involved in buying up property and such. They seemed to be more businesslike compared to the Dundons and McCarthy's that more behaved like raving mad dogs.

Again, this is just my view from reading through the cases. Irish posters may have a different opinion.

Evidence shows man who shot Michael Collins met him before ambush



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New information has emerged about the man believed to have shot Ireland’s revolutionary leader Michael Collins, including the revelation that he had previously met “the Big Fella” twice.

Denis “Sonny” O’Neill, a former Royal Irish Constabulary and IRA officer who fought on the Anti-Treaty side in the Irish Civil War, was at Beal na Blath on August 22, 1922 for the ambush that took Collins’ life.

According to pension records just published by Ireland’s Military Archives and analyzed by the Irish Independent, he claimed that his presence that day was an accident.

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“We accidentally ran into the Ballinablath [sic] thing. We took up a position, and held it there until late in the evening,” he said in a sworn statement delivered in 1934 when he was applying for a military pension.

The Collins party had been delayed and O’Neill and his comrades were about to abandon the ambush when they heard the Collins group approaching.

Collins leaped from the car and began firing when they came under fire. He was shot by a single bullet through the head and died instantly.

O’Neill also had two personal encounters with Collins while working with the IRA during the War of Independence. The first in 1920, when he was introduced to Collins and a number of his confidantes; the second in 1921, when he was entrusted to deliver a message to Collins from London.

That these records survive is remarkable in itself, given that a 1932 government order directed all files pertaining to the Civil War be burned.

O’Neill, described in army intelligence files from 1924 as “a first class shot and a strict disciplinarian” and “undoubtedly a dangerous man,” was born in Timoleague, Co. Cork in 1888.

He served in the RIC and as a marksman for the British Army in WWI, but was discharged after being shot in the arm.

Back in Ireland, he rose through the ranks of the IRA thanks to the access granted him by his RIC past. In the Irish Civil War he fought on the Anti-Treaty side. The pension files paint a picture of a man on the run after the war ended, never staying in the same house two nights in a row.

Years later he settled in Tipperary, becoming a peace commissioner and a director of elections for Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail. He died in 1950.

All of this new information about O’Neill is included in the second cache of Military Pensions Archives published by the Irish Defense Forces and just made available online.

Between 1924 and 1949, the Irish government made those who had fought or performed intelligence work in the War of Independence and the Irish Civil War eligible for pensions.

In order to receive benefits, however, they had to provide evidence, personal testimony and second hand testimony of their service.

Because of this, the records are exceptionally detailed. The portion just released, for example, includes 1,158 individual pension records, 77 administrative files and 173,000 scanned documents, letters and photographs. The site also includes a map of activity during the 1916 Easter Rising and a photo identification project.

Prison officer attacked in Mountjoy during routine search



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A prison officer has been treated in hospital after suffering a cut to his eye in another brutal attack on prison staff inside Mountjoy today.

The attack came as members of the Operational Support Group carried out searches.

It is the latest in a series of attacks that have threatened to spark industrial action by prison officers, who claim cutbacks have affected their safety.

Thug Stephen Dolan, who is serving time for actual bodily harm after attacking a taxi driver and head-butting a garda during a court appearance, launched his unprovoked attack during a routine search.

Prison Officer Association (POA) spokesman Jim Mitchell said there have been six assaults on staff in Mountjoy in the last three weeks.

“It highlights the dangerous and difficult job prison officers have to do,” he told the Sunday World.

The POA are due to meet Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald this week to discuss a report into the escape of dangerous prisoner Derek Brockwell, during which two warders were stabbed.

Gangster Fat Freddie's jail 'shiv' discovered in search


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GANGSTER Fat Freddie Thompson had a makeshift knife hidden in his jail cell which was found alongside his porn stash this week.

The homemade ‘shiv’ was found with a memory stick in the mobster’s jail cell in the Midlands prison.

Thompson, who is locked in a lethal feud with a rival gang, has real fears he could be targeted behind bars.

He previously clashed with inmates at Wheatfield while on remand and has since been moved to the County Laois lock-up.

Fat Freddie has now been taken off the ‘enhanced regime’ which means he loses some home comforts and extra telephone calls.

He is serving a 20 month sentence for violent disorder.

Dublin man jailed for 10 years for CU robbery and firing gun at garda



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A Dublin man has been jailed for ten years for robbing a credit union and firing a gun while resisting arrest.

The weapon fired by Derek Murphy (45) was later revealed to have had an umbrella shaft for a barrel.

The shot caused a bicycle patrol garda who was pursuing Murphy and his accomplice on foot to dive behind a nearby vehicle and retreat from the area.

Murphy, of Springdale Road, Raheny pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing Portmarnock Credit Union, Strand Road, Portmarnock, Co Dublin of €2,800 on November 16, 2012.

He also pleaded guilty to producing a firearm while seizing a vehicle and using a firearm while resisting arrest at St Anne’s Square, Portmarnock on the same date.
Judge Martin Nolan said Murphy remained a potential threat to society. He suspended the last two years of a 12 year sentence on condition he keep the peace for two years after his release.

Murphy was previously jailed for six years for a 2003 bank robbery, for 12 years for a tiger kidnapping and seven years for manslaughter in 1993.

Detective Garda Brian Pentony revealed that Murphy had only been released from the tiger kidnapping sentence about two years before he committed the credit union robbery.

He told Anne Rowland BL, prosecuting, that Murphy and his accomplice pushed into the credit union as a customer was being buzzed in. One credit union staff member later told gardai that Murphy had been the most aggressive robber in her experience of raids.

Garda Michael Bolton, who was on bicycle patrol, spotted the two men in balaclavas exiting the credit union. He discarded his bike to pursue the robbers on foot and saw them shouting at a motorist to get out of her car.
He was then forced to dive behind a nearby vehicle when he heard a bang and saw a flash coming from Murphy’s gun.

Gda Bolton, who has since been nominated for a medal for bravery, retreated towards the main road and flagged down a passing car to follow the robbers in their hijacked vehicle.

The hijacked Opel Astra was later discovered by other gardai abandoned at a housing estate. The two raiders were seen lying on a grass embankment nearby.

Murphy failed to hop a fence to escape when garda units moved in on him and his accomplice, who managed to flee.
A 9mm handgun was found in poor condition at the scene.

He said tests confirmed that a spent casing was jammed in the gun. He agreed with Sean Guerin SC, defending, that one part of the weapon was the shaft of an umbrella.

Mr Guerin submitted to Judge Nolan that his client had mental health and drug difficulties and had spent most of his life in custody. The judge agreed that Murphy had a dysfunctional upbringing and was not treated well.

Paddy’s Day raid takes over €500k worth of heroin off the streets


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Gardai have taken seven half kilo blocks of heroin off the streets of Dublin following a raid on a house in Ranelagh, yesterday.

The gear, which is estimated to be valued at €525,000 was seized following a surveillance operation carried out by Kevin Street Station’s Drug Unit.

Armed officers from the Emergency Response Unit hit the house, in Swan Grove, on St Patrick’s Day, arresting a man and woman, both aged in their 40s.

The woman has since been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Meanwhile the man is being held at Kevin Street Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

Heroin and cocaine seized in Cork


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Gardai attached to the Cork City Divisional Drug Unit and the Garda National Drug Unit/Organised Crime Unit seized heroin and cocaine worth an estimated €37,000 and €1,000 (pending analysis) following the search of a car at the M8 Toll Plaza in Cork.

The driver and sole occupant, a male in his 30’s, was arrested at the scene and brought to Mayfield Garda Station where he is currently detained under the provisions of Section 2 of The Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

In a follow up search of a house in Navan, Co. Meath this afternoon a small amount of ecstasy, cash and mobile phones were discovered.

Party animals: Slain RIRA chief’s pals hold bash for murder accused



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ALAN RYAN’s inner circle held a night out to celebrate the freedom of Dean Evans as he awaits trial on a murder charge.

Evans and his brother Darragh joined up with Ryan’s brother Vinnie, Derek Nolan and other pals on a night out to celebrate the fact he got bail last month.

Dean Evans was one of three men charged with the murder of former Real IRA member Pete Butterly, who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn in Gormanstown, Co. Meath, on March 6, 2013.

He had been in Portlaoise Prison for over a year, but the case against the men collapsed at the Special Criminal Court in January and a retrial has now been set for next year.
As a result, Evans was granted bail and he soon joined up with his old pals, who were Ryan’s core associates.

Vinnie and Darragh spent a year in Portlaoise after being charged with possession of an assault rifle and a handgun on the day gang boss Michael ‘Micka’ Kelly was shot dead in 2012.

However, the Special Criminal Court ruled there was an insufficient evidential basis from which a jury could find them guilty.

They weren’t the only members of the group to be charged of an offence and later walk free.

Derek Nolan ,along with Alan Ryan, John Stokes and Daryl Mulcahy, had been charged with demanding that the Castle pub in Summerhill, Dublin, close within 24 hours.

Stokes ran the rival Player’s Lounge pub, which became a Real IRA hangout at the time.

Ryan was shot dead before the case came to court and the State dropped the charges against the other men after the publican who said he was threatened changed his evidence.

The majority of Ryan’s pals have faced death threats in recent years, including the Evans brothers and Nolan.
Dean Evans and Nolan were living in a house in the south inner city when the threats were at their highest around two years ago. Evans can not stay at his parents home due to the threats against him.

Nolan fled Dublin after being informed of threats to his life, but has since returned.

Associates of the gang boss known as Mr Big have targeted their family homes on more than one occasion, despite the fact the men no longer live there.
As well as celebrating Evans release from prison, pals of Alan Ryan recently commemorated him by having special mugs made up featuring his picture and a picture of an IRA colour party firing shots over his coffin.

Balaclava wearing gangsters found by gardai hiding in boot of taxi



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Four members of a north inner city gang were in garda custody last night after a dramatic arrest operation in which two of the men were discovered in the boot of a Toyota taxi wearing balaclavas.

Heavily armed detectives pounced on the taxi and a Ford Mondeo, which were travelling in convoy at Harold Road in Stoneybatter, in Dublin's north inner city, at around 10.30am.

Two of the criminals were hiding in the taxi's boot and had a large knife in their possession, while the only occupant of the Mondeo was its driver. Neither car had been stolen.

"A number of items including a large-bladed knife and balaclavas were recovered during the searches," a garda spokesman said.

Wigs and ski masks were also seized by armed officers. All four were arrested and were being questioned last night in Mountjoy and Store Street Garda Stations.

The men are being questioned about conspiracy to commit a robbery and sources say that gardaí intercepted the vehicles yesterday morning shortly before this was due to happen.

Woman in her 40s shot in both legs by masked men


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A woman has been hospitalised with serious injuries after being shot in both legs.

The 47-year-old woman was shot at close range while trying to flee masked men who forced their way into a home in Newtonabbey.

Police say she was shot in both legs her house in the Ballyronan Park area yesterday evening at around 7.45pm.

Emergency services were called and she was rushed to hospital. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Two other men were also inside the home when the attack happened.

One of them, a man aged 40, suffered injuries to his legs and chin after being assaulted at the scene.

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Irish Traveller in the US held over €1m fraud murder



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An Irish Traveller has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 72-year-old Texas housekeeper.

Colleyville police say 26-year-old Bernard Gorman faces a murder warrant in a scam to collect on $1 million insurance without the victim's knowledge.

Gorman was arrested and is being detained in relation to the murder of Anita Fox (73), an elderly housekeeper who was found stabbed to death last year. Polk County jail records show Gorman was being held without bond Thursday.

Colleyville Police Chief Michael Holder says Fox was found slain in September at a residence where she worked. She was discovered at a house in Colleyville with stab wounds to her head, back and chest areas.

According to the Star Telegram, it was the city’s first homicide in 23 years.

Holder says the suspect's late father Gerard Gorman - who recently died of natural causes in January - fatally stabbed Fox.

Police allege the victim had been followed by two suspects in the days leading up to her death. They believe the father-son duo planned to murder Fox and collect an insurance policy.

The Telegram reported that greed was the motive, and that the Gormans planned to collect on a $1 million life insurance policy in Fox’s name. Gorman was part of a group of three people paying for the policy.

The arrest results from a months-long investigation launched by the U.S. Attorney's office in Columbia, South Carolina.

Colleyville Police Chief Mike Holder said: “Our investigation discovered an elaborate, organised scheme, organised by several individuals and designed to obtain fraudulent life insurance policies.

“Specific to our investigation, we discovered there was an insurance policy issued on Miss Fox, for at least seven figures.”

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Mum escapes jail for getaway driver role



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A man and a woman who met on the night they were involved in an armed robbery have avoided jail.

Suzanne O’Connell (42) was the get away driver for Daniel McMahon (23) and another man who went into the petrol station in Clonsilla, Dublin armed with a pellet gun and a knife.

O’Connell of Whitestown Crescent, Blanchardstown, Dublin and McMahon of Woodlands, Clonsilla, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery of the Applegreen shop on September 19, 2013.

Detective Garda Rebecca Doolin said that gardai had O’Connell under observation on the night and followed her as she drove from her home to a house on Briarwood Lawn, Clonsilla where she picked up McMahon and another man.

She drove off and parked on a cul-de-sac road opposite the petrol station. The two men got out and, wearing balaclavas, walked into the shop. McMahon was pointing what looked like a 6mm colt handgun and demanding money. The other man had a knife.

The raiders told staff to fill a plastic bag with cash and they left with around €800. Gardai who had followed the car then moved in and arrested all three.

They shouted “armed gardai, stop” as the men left the shop and the men threw down their weapons. The gun was found to be a pellet gun and was a convincing replica, the court heard.

After his arrest McMahon said he didn’t know O’Connell and they had only met that night. Detective Doolin agreed with McMahon when he said: “I’m not a big criminal mastermind”.
He has no previous convictions and O’Connell’s convictions are for road traffic offences and a drug dealing offence in 2002.

Garnet Orange SC, defending, said she is actively involved in the care of her autistic son.

Ronan Kennedy BL, defending McMahon, said he comes from a very decent family and that things spiralled out of control for him after his cousin, who he was very close to, killed himself. He said he is now back in education and also carries out volunteer work.

Judge Martin Nolan suspended a five year prison term on condition that each of them keep the peace for that time. He said he was taking into consideration their personal circumstances and the mitigating factors of a guilty plea and their co-operated with gardai.

Six IRA bomb suspects given 'comfort' letters face fresh police probe



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The PSNI has reportedly launched new investigations into six key IRA suspects alleged to be behind some of the most notorious attacks of the Troubles - who received letters telling them they were not wanted by police

The PSNI has reportedly launched new investigations into six key IRA suspects alleged to be behind some of the most notorious attacks of the Troubles - who received letters telling them they were not wanted by police.


The scheme saw around 200 fugitive republicans receive assurances that they were not wanted by UK authorities.

A political crisis was sparked after the collapse of the prosecution last year of John Downey for the Hyde Park bombing which killed four soldiers in 1982.

The Telegraph newspaper reported that detectives in Northern Ireland have found "six additional individuals whose circumstances have been identified as similar to the Downey case".

It almost brought Stormont down, with First Minister Peter Robinson threatening to resign.

Downey received one of the OTR letters in error when he was wanted by the Metropolitan Police. The Government has said it no longer stands by the letters.

The revelations came from a leaked police document which reportedly shows that detectives now believe these "comfort letters" do not protect suspects from prosecution.

The Telegraph said police in Northern Ireland have identified six individuals suspected of carrying out terrorist attacks, which are believed to have taken place both here and in England. The document does not give details of the six cases.

In a statement, ACC Will Kerr said: "The review of these cases is an ongoing processes. This does involve active criminal investigations and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

It is understood that the comfort letters were given to suspects in the Harrods car bomb in 1983, which killed six and injured 90, and the 1987 Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen.

UUP MLA Tom Elliott welcomed the news. He said: "It is important that every possible avenue is taken to bring justice for the innocent victims in our society. No one should be above the law, and letters of comfort should not be allowed to prevent prosecutions."

Background

A judge-led review was requested by Prime Minister David Cameron to investigate how more than 200 people were told they were not wanted for paramilitary crimes as part of a peace process deal between Sinn Fein and Tony Blair's Labour government.

Lady Hallett said the scheme was not well publicised, and effectively kept "below the radar", but was not secret. Mr Blair said the letter should not have been issued to Mr Downey.

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Police 'target key IRA suspects'



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Police are reportedly investigating six key IRA suspects who received letters telling them they were not wanted.

The Sunday Telegraph said they were alleged to be behind some of Britain's worst attacks.

The Government has said it no longer stands by the letters, drawn up under Tony Blair's administration as a peace process move.

It followed the collapse of the prosecution last year of John Downey for the Hyde Park bombing which killed four soldiers in 1982.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, officers have found "six additional individuals whose circumstances have been identified as similar to the Downey case".

The leaked police document shows that detectives now believe these "comfort letters" do not protect suspects from prosecution.

It discloses that police in Northern Ireland have identified six individuals suspected of carrying out terrorist attacks.

Mr Blair's Government sent about 200 letters to republicans assuring them they were not being pursued by the UK authorities following requests from Sinn Fein.

Mr Blair began the peace process scheme in 2000 which saw 95 of the so-called letters of comfort issued by the government to suspects linked by intelligence to almost 300 murders.

The plan was drawn up following pressure from Sinn Fein to allow the fugitives, who had they been in prison before 1998 would have been released under the Good Friday Agreement, to return to Northern Ireland.

An investigation was launched by MPs when the prosecution of Mr Downey for the murder of the soldiers at Hyde Park in 1982 was halted after he received one of the OTR letters in error when he was wanted by the Metropolitan Police.

Mr Blair apologised to Hyde Park victims but made no apology for sending letters to those who should have received them.

He took responsibility for the structural problems with the scheme, which developed from a small to a large number of cases over many years, and said the framework could have been better. A judge said had the issues been corrected they may have prevented the Hyde Park error.

Household Cavalry Lieutenant Anthony "Denis" Daly, 23, died in the explosion alongside Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, Lance Corporal Jeffrey Young, 19, and 36-year-old Squadron Quartermaster Corporal Roy Bright.

Mr Blair said the letter should not have been issued to Mr Downey.

ACC Will Kerr said: "The review of these cases is an ongoing process. This does involve active criminal investigations and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

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Shankill bomb hero Raymond Elliott takes his secrets to the grave.


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The son of a west Belfast man who was honoured for his bravery in trying to rescue victims of the Shankill bomb said he was his family's as well as the community's hero.

Raymond Elliott (71) from Highfield died on Wednesday after suffering from long-term ill-health. He had never fully recovered from or talked about the horror he witnessed on October 23, 1993 when the IRA bombed Frizzell's fish shop on the Shankill Road, killing 10 people and injuring more than 50 others.

With no thoughts for his own safety, Mr Elliott spent hours digging through the rubble trying to save people.

He received the Royal Ulster Constabulary Award Certificate for his valour.

Diane Morrison - sister of Michael Morrison, one of those killed in the bomb along with his partner Evelyn Baird and seven-year-old daughter Michelle - said Mr Elliott had been a lifelong family friend and they would always be grateful to him for his efforts on the day of the bomb, and proud of him.

Mr Elliott's son Stephen last night told the Belfast Telegraph that his family were devastated at the loss of their "hero".

His father died on Wednesday morning, his son's 50th birthday, after struggling with ill-health.

"He had been ill from Christmas. He fought it all the way which was typical of my father, fought until his last breath," he said.

"My father didn't like talking about the bomb too much, he didn't want to upset my mum or any of the families of those who were killed, so he kept a lot in and it tortured him.

"Every time it came up to the anniversary of the bomb, he and my mum would get away from Belfast. They went to Portrush, Portstewart, Bangor, anywhere just to get away from it. It was too hard for him."

Mr Elliott said his father hated passing the site where the bomb had exploded as it upset him to think of people who he had not been able to save.

"He always had it in his head that if he had have been able to save just one person," he said.

"We tried to explain to him that there was nothing anyone could have done, but it haunted him."

Mr Elliott said his father was a different man after the bomb.

"Before that bomb went off he had been the life and soul of the party," he said. "After that bomb, we lost a part of him."

He said his father took solace in his family, especially the new lives coming into it.

"He loved his family, he especially loved having the grandchildren and great grandchildren about him, but he still wasn't the same as he was before that bomb," he said.

"He used to get these depressions. You knew when they were coming on."

Mr Elliott said his father is his hero, and also the hero of the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

"He cared a lot about people, if he saw anyone in trouble he would have helped them, that's just the way he was," he said. "He was our hero, he was the hero to a lot of people.

"The grandchildren kept him going, then the great grandchildren. They were his wee munchkins. They really miss him. We have got DVDs and articles about him getting his medals.

"They don't understand about the Troubles and what happened, but we have told them what he did and you see their wee faces light up, they are so proud of him."

Victims campaigner Willie Frazer described Mr Elliott as a friend, and said he will be sorely missed by the many affected by the Troubles who he had reached out to in the last decade.

"He had been through a lot," he said.

"He helped other victims a lot too, people often find it hard to talk, but Raymond seemed to have a way about him that he could talk to people who had been affected by trauma.

"He was a great help to other victims and he will be sorely missed."

Mr Elliott's funeral is set to take place from his daughter's house next Tuesday.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Doreen, sons Jim and Stephen, daughter Eileen as well as 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

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Gerry Adams accused by shot man's sister in RTE documentary



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Gerry Adams told the sister of a man left to bleed to death after a so-called punishment shooting that the IRA men behind it would not be reported to the police, it has been claimed.


Andrew Kearney was shot three times in the leg after a west Belfast bar brawl in which he punched an IRA man in 1998.

His sister Eleanor King is still seeking justice.

She has revealed in an RTE documentary about paramilitary attacks, Above The Law, how the Sinn Fein leader apologised privately for the IRA killing.

However, he refused to make it public.

"The first thing he told us was that he was extending an apology from the top of the republican movement," Ms King said.

Asked by Mr Adams what she wanted, Ms King said her mother requested the gunmen be handed over to the police and for justice to take its course.

"But I think at that stage he told her that it wouldn't happen," she said. "That they wouldn't be handed over but that they would deal out any discipline that was forthcoming from them."

Above The Law is on RTE One at 9.35pm tonight

Suspected IRA member granted bail



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A Dublin man who was arrested for membership of the IRA has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court.

Declan Phelan (32), of Lanndale Lawns, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was granted bail on condition he surrenders his passport /travel documents, signs on daily at Naas Garda Station, agrees not to leave the jurisdiction that includes not travelling to Northern Ireland, observes a curfew between the hours of 12 Midnight and 6.30 am and does not to associate with any person convicted or charged with a scheduled offence.

The accused must also provide a mobile phone number to the Gardaí from a mobile phone provider in the jurisdiction, and the phone is to be left on at all times and be the sole phone used by accused.

Mr Phelan was granted bail on an independent surety of €10,000 and his own bond of €100.

Mr Phelan will next appear before the Special Criminal Court on June 9 2015 at 11am.

At a special sitting of the non-jury court in July 2013, seven men were charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA on July 3 2013.

The seven were: Peter Burns (39) of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Kevin Braney (39) also of Glenshane Crescent, Tallaght, Michael Barr (33) of Carlton Court, Poppintree, Ballymun, Brian Nick McBennett (54) of Ard Collum Avenue, Artane, John Brock (41) of Glenview Park, Tallaght, Declan Phelan (31) of Lanndale Lawns, Tallaght and Desmond Christie (49) of Liam Mellows Road, Finglas were all charged with the same offence on the same date.

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Gerry Adams' paedophile brother launching appeal against conviction



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The paedophile brother of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams will today begin an appeal against his conviction and sentence for raping and sexually abusing his daughter.

Liam Adams, 59, from west Belfast, was found guilty in 2013 of a string of attacks on Aine Dahlstrom when she was aged between four and nine in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He was subsequently handed a 16-year sentence, only half of which he is expected to spend behind bars.

His case is being heard in the Appeal Court in Belfast.

Adams, formerly of Bernagh Drive, was found guilty of 10 offences against Mrs Dahlstrom - three counts of rape, four of indecent assault and three of gross indecency.



The opportunist predator committed the crimes when he was left alone with his daughter, often sneaking into her room while she slept.

The abuse was committed over a five-year period between 1977 and 1981. In later years he went on to work in a number of youth centres in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Mrs Dahlstrom, now in her early 40s, has waived her right to anonymity.

The conviction heaped pressure on Gerry Adams to explain why he did not alert the authorities to the abuse allegations when he initially learned of them.

Gerry Adams (above) has insisted he acted properly and accused political rivals of exploiting a family issue to attack him.

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UVF plot to drive catholics from Belfast city centre housing and apartments



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The UVF is set to launch a sectarian hate campaign in support of the Ligoniel Orangemen.

We can reveal the terror group held a meeting in south Belfast on Wednesday evening also attended by representatives from the east and north of the city.

Hosted by south Belfast commander Eddie `Onions’ Rainey it agreed a blueprint for an anti-catholic hate campaign in an attempt to put the pressure on the government to accede to a list of demands including the stalled Orange parade in north Belfast.

As revealed by the Sunday World last week the UVF intend to hijack a call from the Orange Order leadership for a campaign of peaceful protests against the continued refusal to grant permission for the completion of the Ligoniel parade.

The UVF intends to target catholic families in a systematic campaign of intimidation leading up to the marching season. Security chiefs are already concerned at the prospect of a tense summer.

In the firing line will be foreign nationals and there is increased anxiety that students may also be targeted as the Ulster University develops its city centre campus and increased student accommodation is built in south Belfast.
Sources within the UVF described the campaign as a `smoking gun’ to the head of the government.

“The meeting was called for Wednesday night,” said our source, “a whole range of issues were discussed but in particular Twadell and the forthcoming (Gary) Haggartt supergrass trial.

“The message was blunt, any catholics living in or close to loytalist areas are to be put out.”

He said social housing schemes and student accommodation in particular are to be targeted.

We understand that plans to build student housing on the site of the former Albion shirt factory off Sandy Row are to be monitored. New houses on Broadway between loyalist Donegall Road and the Falls are due to allocated in the coming weeks and the UVF have said they will not allow homes to be granted to foreign nationals or anyone they perceive to be catholic.

The Whitehall Square apartment block, also on Sandy Row is to be targeted. It’s not the first time the upmarket development have come in for attention from loyalist paramilitaries. In the past the building has been daubed with anti-catholic slogans.

The complex was seen as a sign Belfast was becoming more cosmopolitan, it was a view not shared by local residents who have variously dubbed it `Vatican Square’ and `White Chapel.’

“We want these people to leave,” said a loyalist source.

“We believe a large proportion of people living there are from the catholic persuasion, and it could be that they will be given 24 hours to get out. If they don’t they leave themselves open to further action.”

He said Wednesday’s meeting made it clear their intention is to target caholics.

“It’s all about getting the taigs out and keeping the prods in. It’s a step back in time and is the same tactic they have used time and time again.”

He said there is little support among the organisation’s membership but there are enough `young guns’ keen to make a name for themselves who will be more than willing to do the leadership’s bidding.

He said the attacks would not be limited to loyalist areas but could spread to the periphery of what are conceived as loyalist districts.

This week a social housing development in Carryduff in the Belfast commuter belt was claimed by loyalists. UVF flags and signs were erected and an entire section of railings were daubed in red white and blue paint.

The 40 house development, which is near completion, is not in a loyalist district but is close to Killynure estate which is regarded as mainly unionist. Carryduff is a typical commuter belt town and has always been regarded as a socially and religiously mixed.

“They (UVF) say this campaign is about getting the parade down the road, by hook or by c rook, but they also have an eye on the Haggarty trial,” said our source.

“They think they can put a gun to the government’s head, if they want to go ahead with Haggarty then they will see catholic families being petrol bombed out of their homes.”

He said veteran members have warned the leadership, including Rainey, that such campaigns in the past have yielded little or nothing for loyalists.

“Have they forgotten Drumcree,” said our source, “they firebombed a house and murdered the Quinn children, are they seriously suggesting we go down that road again.”

Three young brothers were murdered in a loyalist arson attack in Ballymoney, at the height of the Drumcree protests in 1998.

The boys - Richard Quinn, 11, Mark Quinn, 9, and Jason Quinn, 7 - were asleep in their beds when a petrol bomb was thrown through a window at the rear of their terraced house in the early hours of the morning on the Twelfth.

The Quinns were Catholics living on the predominantly Protestant Carnany estate, but they were accepted by the community and attended a Protestant school.

“It seems to be ok for drug dealers to move into protestant areas but not catholics. This is going to be a very long summer.”

Irish travellers targeted in latest UK anti-slavery raid.







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BRITISH police raided a caravan park in Oxford this week as part of an operation to break up a suspected slavery racket.

Ten people were arrested in the anti-slavery raids in which 150 officers from Thames Valley Police took part.

The investigation, known as Operation Rague, “relates to human exploitation, slavery and fraud offences”, according to police.

Nine men and one woman were arrested on suspicion of offences including servitude and slavery, assault, making threats to kill and fraud, police said.



Supt Andy Boyd, of Thames Valley Police, said the "alleged offences are matters which are taken extremely seriously".

"Our priority at this time is to care for those individuals who have been subject to these offences.

"At this time we are caring for those individuals with our colleagues in the local health service and the local authority," he said.

On Friday, Helen Collins (44) of Redbridge Hollow, Old Abingdon Road, has been charged fraud and conspiracy to use slave labour.


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Armed robber led gardaí on a chase from Dublin to Westmeath because “he had nothing left to lose”



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An armed robber who said he led gardaí on a chase from Dublin to Westmeath because “he had nothing left to lose” has received a five year sentence with four suspended

Eugene Byrne (21) of Lohunda Down, Clonsilla, Dublin had pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at Clonsilla Post Office on December 16, 2013.

Byrne and his accomplice Ian Mansfield (24) fled the scene on a single motorbike and were chased as far as Mulligar, Co Westmeath.

Mansfield of Fortlawn Drive, Blanchardstown, Dublin was earlier spared jail with a suspended five year sentence.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Byrne was arrested in Trinidad and Tobago last year for trying to export cocaine. He was sentenced to two years hard labour, or a fine equivalent to about €4,000 which was paid after he spent six months in jail. He returned to Ireland in January.

Detective Seargent Paul Tallon said that witnesses described how Byrne was armed with a gun when he entered the post office. His accomplice had a hammer. Both men were wearing motorcycle helmets.

The post mistress’ mother saw the men and hit the panic button. The raid lasted about one minute before the men left and got on a motorcycle.

Det Sgt Tallon told James Dwyer BL, prosecuting, that he was on duty in an unmarked patrol car and responded to a alert about the raid. He pursued the raiders and the Air Support Unit were called in.

The lengthy pursuit down the N4 dual carriageway ended in Mullingar, Co Westmeath at a second roadblock set up by gardaí. The men had managed to evade capture at an earlier roadblock.

Det Sgt Tallon said that the post mistress’s mother has suffered nightmares ever since. She is now on edge all the time and finds herself being cautious with every customer.

After he was arrested, Byrne told Det Sgt Tallon that he panicked when gardaí began chasing him and decided to flee because he had “nothing left to lose”.

Luigi Rea BL, defending, told Judge Martin Nolan that Byrne was “out of kilter” at the time of the offence due to the death of his father a short time before. In addition to the conviction in Trinidad and Tobago, Byrne has one previous conviction in Ireland, for dangerous driving.

Judge Nolan noted that Byrne had a more serious involvement in the attempted post office raid that his co-accucsed, as he had carried the immitation firearm and had driven the motor bike.

The judge gave Byrne credit for the six months he had spent in the foreign jail when passing sentence.

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Rattigan ex held following €1million drugs sting



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GANGSTER’s moll Natasha McEnroe and her drug-dealing boyfriend, who has survived attempts on his life, were among four people arrested over two separate seizures of almost €1m worth of drugs in Dublin this week.

McEnroe is a former girlfriend of jailed gang boss Brian Rattigan.

Her current partner, convicted drug dealer Paul Geraghty, was previously targeted in hit attempts on the orders of Rattigan because of his relationship with McEnroe, but that dispute was settled.

Geraghty (30) and McEnroe (32), were arrested on Wednesday after gardai carried out drug raids in Ranelagh and discovered €350,000 in a bin outside a property.

The previous day gardai arrested another man and a woman linked to Geraghty and McEnroe after discovering heroin with an estimated value of €525,000.

McEnroe has had close links to some of Ireland’s major criminals over the years.

As well as relationships with Rattigan and Geraghty, she had very close friendships with well-known figures such as Mark ‘Guinea Pig’ Desmond (39) and Christopher ‘Git’ Zambra (39), who was shot dead in Dublin last year.



Natasha and Rattigan

A drugs trial involving Rattigan previously heard that McEnroe was at the centre of Rattigan’s crime operations. Rattigan contacted her by text message from prison over a €1m drugs haul in Crumlin in May 2008.

Gardai also raided her home and found notebooks which they considered to be drugs ‘tick lists’ as they had a list of names on them, but McEnroe was never charged in connection with the haul.

Geraghty is no stranger to the criminal world either.

In January 2011, he narrowly escaped with his life after a two-man hit team tried to kill him in his home in Ranelagh.

Rattigan, who is serving life for murder, flew into a rage when McEnroe told him of their relationship, but the feud came to an end after McEnroe made peace with the Rattigan family in 2013.

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Fear: Mark Buckley carrying Eamon 'The Don' Dunne's coffin
The best pal of slain gang boss Eamon 'The Don' Dunne is under serious threat in prison less than a fortnight into a two-year sentence.

It is understood that there is a reward on offer to any inmate who causes serious harm to 32-year-old gangland bully Mark 'Bucko' Buckley.

Buckley is said to be in a complete state of "isolation and paranoia" in Wheatfield Prison after becoming a hate figure for other serious criminals.

"He shoved his weight around way too much when he was going around with Eamon Dunne, but things are very different now five years later," a jail source said.

"He got moved to Wheatfield from Mountjoy as things were so bad for him there that he was not even able to go into the exercise yard because he would have been attacked."

Sources said Buckley is in danger because he had been involved in a number of brutal fights on the outside.

These included one at a northside gym several years ago with a serious gangster who is a key player in the 'Mr Big' drugs organisation.



Of most concern to Buckley is the fact he is a "major enemy" of convicted killer Craig White (29), who is considered one of the most powerful and dangerous prisoners in the country.

In July 2009, White was convicted of the Crumlin/Drimnagh feud-related murder of Noel Roche, who was shot dead in the passenger seat of a car in Clontarf in November 2005 after attending a Phil Collins concert at the Point.

White has been feuding with Buckley since before he was locked up nearly six years ago and is now eager for "payback", according to sources.

Buckley has also fallen foul of key members of his former mob and is "despised" by associates of murder victim Paul Cullen (27), who was shot dead in a Cabra pub in March 2013.

It is believed Cullen was targeted by a local mob because he was demanding payment for his role in the gun murder of notorious hood John Daly (27) in October 2007.

Buckley was handed the two-year sentence for his involvement with three other criminals in the vicious assault on one of Cullen's best pals in the Cabra House pub where Cullen was shot dead five months earlier.

Dublin Circuit Court heard last month that the four men arrived at the pub in two cars driven by Buckley and his pal David Waldron.

They walked to the back bar where they attacked Cullen's friend, chased him out of the pub and beat him up after knocking him to the ground.

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Mourning: Conor McGregor was seen at the funeral of Paul Kavanagh
Ireland's latest gangland murder victim Paul Kavanagh was laid to rest in south Dublin yesterday.

Among his mourners was one of Ireland's most noticeable sports stars.

Conor McGregor (27) was among hundreds of people who turned out to pay their respects to the late gangland figure. The UFC star is understood to be close to Paul Kavanagh's nephew boxer Jamie, who spoke at the ceremony.

McGregor and Kavanagh, who are roughly the same age, grew up in the same area of Drimnagh.

The UFC fighter was pictured leaving the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel on Mourne Road in Drimnagh before the victim's body was transferred to the graveyard.


The 27-year-old father was shot dead as he sat in his car on Church Avenue in Drumcondra almost two weeks ago.

It is believed the gangland figure was murdered for pocketing drug money he was collecting from a criminal in Dublin.

It was the second gangland murder in the Kavanagh family in less than a year. His brother Gerard ‘Hatchet’ Kavanagh was shot dead by two masked assassins in Spain last year.

Kavanagh, also from Drimnagh, was an enforcer in Christy Kinahan’s drug organisation.

However, it is believed he had a falling out with Irish criminals based in the Costa Del.

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Funeral: Mourners at Paul Kavanagh's funeral in Drimnagh today


The funeral of Ireland's latest gangland victim took place today at a church on the side side of Dublin city.



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Paul Kavanagh

The brother of infamous figure Gerard 'Hatchet' Kavanagh was buried today in Palmerstown Cemetery less than two weeks after being gunned down.



Gerard 'Hatchet' Kavanagh

A funeral procession began at the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel on Mourne Road in Drimnagh before the victim's body was transferred to the graveyard.



His funeral was attended today by friends and family, most notably his "beloved partner" Gemma and his two daughters.

The father-of-two was shot several times as he sat in a car on Church Avenue in Drumcondra on March, 26. It is believed the 27-year-old was murdered by his own gang for pocketing drug money.



His murder is the second gangland killing in the family in a year. His brother Gerard ‘Hatchet’ Kavanagh was shot dead by two masked assassins in Spain last year.

Kavanagh, also from Drimnagh, was an enforcer in Christy Kinahan’s drug organisation.

However, it is believed he had a falling out with Irish criminals based in the Costa Del Sol.

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Gardai in Trim are investigating a troubling incident where a man was knocked out by someone posing as a Garda before having his car and phone stolen.

A man in his 30s was driving home at 4am on Thursday near Connell's Cross near Trim in Meath when a car with blue flashing lights started following him.

After indicating for him to stop the man pulled over and when he rolled down the window he was asked for his driver's licence. But then the assailant, who it seems was not wearing a garda uniform, hit the victim over the head with something heavy.

The man woke a few hours later to find his Ford Transit and phone stolen and as nobody would come to his aid, he was forced to walk 2km home to his house in Kilmessan.

The man's van was found in Bellewstown the next morning.

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Their partners are some of the most notorious mobsters being held in Irish prisons, but as our photographs show, the life of bling goes on for the one-time partners of gangland’s finest.

Natasha McEnroe was once betrothed to crime boss Brian Rattigan and even had her first child with him.

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Brian Rattigan

However, when ‘King Rat’ was jailed for life for the murder of Declan Gavin in 2009, she dumped him and subsequently hooked up with another drug dealer, Paul Geraghty.

Rattigan flew into a rage when he first got the ‘Dear John’ letter from Natasha and Geraghty survived an assassination attempt in January 2011.

But peace was eventually restored and Natasha has gone on to have two children with Geraghty. This month, the pair dressed up in their finery to celebrate the confirmation of Rattigan’s daughter.


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Natasha McEnroe and Paul Geraghty

While her dad remains behind bars, her mum pulled out all the stops for the big day and even splashed out on special party bags, personalised bottles of champagne and a three-tiered Confirmation cake.

Just days after the celebrations McEnroe (32) and Geraghty (30), were arrested in connection with two separate seizures of almost €1million worth of drugs in Dublin.

The pair were lifted after gardai carried out drug raids in Ranelagh and discovered €350,000 in a bin outside a property.

The day before, another man and woman linked to the couple were arrested after the discovery of €525,000 of heroin.

Meanwhile, Ciara Killeen, the long-term partner of jailed killer John Dundon, managed to muster up a smile and don her glad rags for her big day out as she celebrated her son’s confirmation.


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John Dundon

The Limerick moll even hired a stretched white limo for the party, which lover John can only see pictures of from his jail cell.

Ciara still lives in her fortress home in Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick, despite the demise of her husband’s gang, known as murder inc.

In 2013 he was jailed for the murder of rugby player Shane Geoghegan on the evidence of his brother’s former partner April Collins.

But Killeen hasn’t let her husband’s life sentence get in the way of the extravagant lifestyle she has been accustomed to.

Perma-tanned, she remains a close friend and neighbour of the other Dundon women – Ann Casey, wife of Wayne, and Ciara Lynch, Dessie’s partner, who lives next door.

The Sunday World understands that Ciara, who is deemed to be a ‘looker’ within the traveller community, has been finding it difficult to remain totally loyal to John, as she faces such a long time without him.

Last year a ‘friend’ of hers was jailed for five years for the possession of a makeshift firearm.

Gordy ‘Goz’ Ryan was rarely seen without Ciara until he was jailed, but their friendship came at a cost and gardai believe there was an active threat on his life from her husband.

In Sligo, Avril Boland put her troubles behind her to celebrate a family communion. Her partner Patrick Irwin is banged-up on cocaine charges.


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Avril Boland

The hairdresser, who earns just €300 a week, enjoyed a massive party and even managed to doll herself up in designer threads for the occasion.

She is one of a number of partners of drug dealer Irwin, and is known to enjoy fine clothes and a hectic social life.

She has been living in Sligo, surrounded by members of Irwin’s family since she was ordered out of her luxury Leitrim home after it was seized by the CAB, who proved in court it was built using the proceeds of drug trafficking.


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Patrick Irwin

Avril was just 23 and training to be a hairdresser when she applied in 2005 for planning permission to build the house overlooking the shores of Lough Gill on the Sligo-Leitrim border.

In the High Court, Mr Justice Kevin Feeney said her evidence about the financing of the property was inconsistent and self-serving.
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He said that she had a hairdresser’s salary of €300 per week, but lived a lifestyle − including residing in a high-quality house, driving a car and taking foreign holidays − which was funded by Irwin’s criminal activities.

He said that Boland’s bank account was effectively used to launder Irwin’s criminal funds
and he ordered her to leave the house.

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TWO men have been charged following a seizure of almost €500,000 worth of cocaine in Dublin.

Gardai from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau arrested the pair following searches of a vehicle in Ballyfermot and a premises in west Dublin on Thursday.

Thomas Knowles, 55, from Knockriada, Chapelizod, Dublin and 34-year-old Mark McHugh with an address at Woodhaven, Clondalkin, Dublin, made no reply when they were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act with possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

Both are alleged to have been in possession of cocaine at Kylemore Road, in Ballyfermot. Mr Knowles has an additional charge for possessing cocaine at his home address on the same date.



They appeared before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court today and were remanded custody with consent to bail in their own bonds of €10,000.

Judge Walsh also said to to take up bail they must have independent sureties in the sum of €15,000 for Mr Knowles and €10,000 for Mr McHugh. Some of the bail money would have to be lodged in cash, the judge directed.

Gardai had objected to bail.

Det Garda John Paul Carroll said Mr Knowles, an unemployed plasterer, faces a serious charge and is accused of possessing seven kilos of cocaine which has an estimated street value of €490,000.

He said the 55-year-old, who is in receipt of a disability allowance, was caught “red-handed”. However, he agreed with defence solicitor Niall O'Connor that the accused, a father-of-three adult children, was not a flight risk and was of limited means.

Det Garda Aisling Hobbs said Mr McHugh, an unemployed father-of-three was caught red-handed in possession of €70,000 worth of cocaine and it was likely there would be further charges.

Judge Walsh said that if the pair take up bail they must sign on at their local garda stations, provide gardai with a contact number, surrender their passports and not apply for duplicate travel documents.

They will face their next hearing on April 17 at Cloverhill District Court.

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A trusted ‘foot-soldier’ in the ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson gang has been caught smuggling more than 2,000 steroid tablets into Mountjoy Prison.

Convicted drug dealer Aaron ‘Benji’ Wrafter (34), was nabbed with the bodybuilding drugs last month as he returned to the jail after being granted Temporary Release.

It is believed the illegal drugs were found concealed on his body by officers in Mountjoy’s Training Unit on 9 May. The seizure highlights a growing problem for prison bosses, with steroid use becoming more popular in Ireland’s jails.

Crime boss John Gilligan used the dangerous drugs to pump up his physique while serving a lengthy sentence in Portlaoise Prison.

One prison source told us that steroids can be bought in most prisons in Ireland.

“They are as valuable as cocaine or heroin in some prisons. For a lot of prisoners, the only aim they have while they are in jail is to bulk up,” he said.

In 2012, Wrafter was locked up for six years after gardai found him with 5,000 ecstasy tablets and €27,000 worth of cocaine, as well as pressing machines and other drug dealing equipment.

Wrafter’s drugs factory was shut down by gardai only seven months after they seized a haul of drugs from him in another location in Dublin City Centre.

Wrafter was supplied with cocaine from Thompson’s crew. He would then mix it with potentially lethal mixing agents in order to make thousands for himself and Thompson’s drugs gangs.