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Two Irish men have been jailed for the killing of a British ex-pat at his home on the Costa del Sol.

A jury in Malaga this week returned a guilty verdict in the trial of Brian McConville and Wayne Lennon, who were accused of murdering Paul Feathers at his Costa del Sol flat.

The pair went on the run after slaying the Brit expat on April 21, in 2010. Spanish state prosecutors announced in February they would be seeking 20-year prison sentences for Dubliners McConville (30, below) and Lennon (38).

However, their charge was downgraded from murder to homicide, a crime which carries a lesser sentence.

They were sentenced to 11 years each for the killing.



Indictments submitted to a criminal court in Malaga claimed the pair stabbed their alleged victim 44 times in the back during a brutal, hour-long attack as he lay bleeding on the floor after being knifed in the neck. They also kicked and punched their victim before stabbing him dozens of time in the neck, arms and legs.

It was claimed the head injuries he sustained during the attack led to brain injuries, and subsequently to his death.

Court documents also alleged they stole a mobile phone from Feathers’ flat in Benalmadena before leaving him unconscious in a pool of blood.

Prosecution documents claim: “When the victim was in a bad way but still alive, they jabbed him 44 times in the back with the knife, as well as cutting him several times in the back and legs, thereby increasing consciously and deliberately his physical pain and mental suffering.”

The court heard the row began after a failed drug deal. Feathers was attacked by the Dubliners after they blamed him for the loss of a vehicle that was to be used in the transportation of illegal substances.

His girlfriend, who unwittingly opened the door to the two men who were wearing balaclavas, identified his attackers.

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Gardai said two guns were discovered during the planned raid in Athlone
A man in his 20s and an 18-year-old girl have been arrested by Gardai investigating the discovery of two firearms and drugs found a house during a planned raid.

Gardai this morning conducted an operation to combat the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Athlone area.

The operation involved the search of two houses in Goldsmith View, Athlone town, a Garda spokesperson said.

During the course of the searches, Gardai recovered a quantity of cannabis herb and cannabis resin with a street value of up to €10,000, pending analysis, along with additional drug paraphernalia.

Two firearms - pending technical examination - were also recovered in this search.

A 24-year-old male and an 18-year-old female were subsequently arrested following the planned raid.

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Phishing: Car owners are having their keys stolen through their letterboxes
A special operation called Operation Waste has seen over 50 vehicles destined to be exported confiscated by Gardai in the last 18 months.

Operation Waste - a joint venture by Dublin Metropolitan Region Garda Traffic Divisionand Dublin City Council’s Waste Management Team - was established to combat the use of public roads by uninsured, untested and dangerously loaded vehicles arriving at Dublin Port, destined for export to West Africa.

Since its inception in September 2014, the operation has seen over 50 vehicles including cars and articulated trucks detained for either no insurance or no certificate of road-worthiness.

Three stolen vehicles including an Audi Q7, a Toyota Avensis and a Mercedes Benz S350 have been recovered before they could be exported, Gardai said.



Also utilising ANPR technology Gardai have recovered a further 11 stolen vehicles parked in communal areas of housing and industrial estates, where it is believed they were being prepared for export.

"The majority of these vehicles had been stolen during the course of burglaries or the keys had been fished out through the letterbox of homes", a Garda spokesperson said.

"As a result we wish to advise all home owners that cars keys should be stored in a safe and secure place in the home and away a safe distance from Front Door letter box’s to avoid their phishing out by thieves and burglars."

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Gardai make series of raids in connection with Romanian organised crime group

Gardai carried out a number of raids in Dublin’s north inner city, as well as Balbriggan, Donabate and Blanchardstown as part of an investigation into Romanian organised criminal groups.

The gangs are believed to have been involved in a number of aggravated burglaries of jewellery shops throughout the country, during the course of which staff members were assaulted.

A total of five men have been detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.

They are all aged in their mid-thirties and are detained at a number of North Dublin Garda Stations.

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A mother-of-one accused of murder was refused bail today (fri) amid fears that she would reoffend.

Remanding 23-year-old Shauneen Boyle back into custody, District Judge Mervyn Bayes said he was also concerned about her interfering
with the ongoing police investigation.

Boyle and 27-year-old Stephen Hughes are jointly charged with the murder of Owen Creaney in Craigavon on a date unknown between 4 - 5 July last year.

The charge arises after the badly beaten body of 40-year-old Mr Creaney was found hidden in a wheelie bin at the back of Hughes'
house at Moyraverty Court after a report of suspicious activity on the Saturday, although police believe that he may have been in the
bin for a number of days.

Speaking at the time of the gruesome discovery, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell said Mr Creaney, who celebrated his 40th
birthday last week, was a "frail and vulnerable" member of our society who was disabled and used a walking aid.
He said it appeared that he "was the victim of a serious and sustained assault" and had initially survived the beating but later
died while in the bin.

Boyle and Hughes were arrested before officers uncovered the victims body in a green bin at the house and the court has heard that during
interviews, each blamed the other for the death, not withstanding the fact that Boyle had allegedly confessed to a witness that she had
assaulted Mr Creaney.

With Boyle appearing via video link today (fri), a detective sergeant have evidence that if released, there was a risk of further offending
as she had quite a substantial record in relation to violence and claimed she was possible flight risk as at one stage she was planning
to go and live with her father in Liverpool.


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Murder victim Owen Creaney

Boyle's solicitor Peter Corrigan said police found body of victim because she told the where it was, adding that she did not stonewall
them but gave a detailed account of everything that happened.

A social worker who is in contact with the defendant on a regular basis gave evidence saying social services would have no objection to
her being released on bail and that Boyle was "100 per cent" committed to her son.

Judge Bates said he did not consider there was any flight risk but add that she faces a serious charge and he was concerned about the
risk of re-offending and interference with witnesses.

Boyle was remanded for a further video link appearance on May 8.

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Man beaten by bat-wielding gang in North Belfast

A man has beaten with baseball bats by a gang in North Belfast.

Seven men forced their way into the victim's home on Forthriver Drive at around 10.00pm on Thursday night.

The so-called 'punishment beating' left the victim with several broken bones.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A 33-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning on the Crumlin Road in connection with the attack.

Detective Constable Gareth Hussey said: “The victim sustained a number of suspected fractures however his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

“A suspect was subsequently arrested in the Crumlin Road area at around 2am.

“He remains in custody at this time assisting us with our enquiries.”

The PSNI have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101.

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UDA "foot soldiers" to stand trial for attempted murder

A 100-strong UDA mob ransacked the house last March in Larne

Two Greenisland men once described as "foot soldiers" in the UDA were today (thurs) ordered to stand trial accused of attempted murder and intimidation.

Standing in the dock of Ballymena Magistrates Court, 29-year-old Steven Adam Blackwood and Stephen Craig Mettleton (34) were charged with trying to kill a man after a gang of up to 100 loyalists smashed their way into his home at Knockdhu Park in Larne on 30 March last year.

As well as attempted murder and aggravated burglary Blackwood, from Moyard Gardens and Mettleton, from Rossmore Green in the town, are also charged with causing criminal damage to the house and intimidating both the male and a female to leave the property.

Alongside them in the dock today (thurs) was Ballyclare woman 37-year- old Elizabeth Sharon Anderson from Grange Park in the east Antrim town who faces a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by allegedly providing Mettleton was a false alibi.

The charges arise after serious public disorder involving a 100 strong gang armed with knives, machetes, golf clubs and hammers smashed their way into a man’s home, wrecked various items inside and issued threats for the family to get out of Larne.

During earlier court hearings, Mettleton and Blackwood have been described as "foot soldiers in the south east Antrim UDA" who can allegedly be linked to the incident after the men's DNA was found on a balaclava and gloves found in a bin near a house in Knockdhu Park.

Although no facts of the case were opened today (thurs), a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a Prima Facie case for the trio to answer, based on the legal papers before the court and as their solicitors had no contrary submissions, District Judge Des Perry said he was satisfied there was enough evidence to commit them to the Crown Court for trial.

All three accused were given the opportunity to comment on the charges, give evidence to the Preliminary Enquiry or call witnesses on their behalves but each declined to do so.

Releasing the defendants on continuing bail, Judge Perry extended legal aid to allow senior barristers to be instructed and ordered the three to appear at Belfast Crown Court for arraignment on a date to be fixed.

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'Shots fired' as cops come under attack in Derry

Shots have been fired as police came under attack in Derry on Wednesday night.

Trouble began just before 10pm in the Leafair Gardens are of the city.

Police said that the 30-strong mob was mostly made up of youths.

The PSNI had to deploy CS gas to bring the crowd under control after two police Land Rovers were "substantially damaged" after coming under attack from masonry and other makeshift missiles thrown by the mob.

Later in the evening the PSNI said they were reports of shots being fired in the same area.

The police have asked for anyone with information to contact them on their non-emergency number, 101.

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Two men aged 23 and 30 arrested as part of major international drug smuggling probe

Two men aged 23 and 30 have been arrested as part of a major investigation into international drugs smuggling.

The pair were detained during a search of a house in the Donegall Pass area of south Belfast and have been taken to a police station in the city for questioning.

In the past nine days, 12 people have been arrested and £1 million worth of cannabis has been seized following 22 police raids across Northern Ireland.

Further arrests and seizures have also been made in England and Italy.

Detective Inspector Andy Dunlop, from the Police Service Organised Crime Branch, said: "Five people have been remanded in custody, two were released on bail pending a report to the PPS and three others are due to appear in court tomorrow.

"We have seized £1 million worth of cannabis in Northern Ireland and have worked closely with colleagues in the National Crime Agency and Italian Carabinieri as additional searches were conducted and arrests were made.

"Our inquiries are continuing."

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Man shot in so-called 'punishment attack' in West Belfast,


A 26-year-old man has been shot in both legs in West Belfast.

The attack had all the hallmarks of a paramilitary 'punishment shooting'.

It happened on Lady Street in West Belfast on Tuesday evening at around 8.55pm.

Two men were seen running from the attack on McDonnell Street.

The victim's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The PSNI have asked for anyone with any information to contact them.

Man pleads guilty to gun murder of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly





A Dublin man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to the murder of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly in Killester two-and-a-half years ago.

Sean Connolly (35), of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, had been charged at a special sitting of the non-jury court with the murder of Mr Kelly at Furry Park Road, Killester on Dublin’s north-side, on December 4th, 2012.

Connolly had also been charged with IRA membership and with possession of a firearm on the same occasion.

His trial on all three counts was due to commence this morning in the three-judge court. However, Connolly pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Kelly on his arraignment and the court was told that the remaining two counts would proceed no further.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul Greene SC, told the court that there were three counts on the indictment and a response to the count of murder was "likely".





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Connolly's barrister, Paul Burns SC, confirmed that his client “may be arraigned” on the count of murder.

When asked by the registrar of the Special Criminal Court to stand up, Connolly made no reaction. The registrar asked if he was Sean Connolly, to which he said “yeah”.

When asked how he would plead to count 1 – that on December 4 2012 in Killester in Dublin, he murdered Eamon Kelly – Connolly said “guilty”. Mr Greene told the court that a nolle prosequi – a decision not to proceed – would be entered on the outstanding counts.

A Victim Impact Report was being prepared, Mr Greene said, and a date of Friday May 1 next was set for the court to convene again.

The trial, which was expected to last three weeks, was due to be heard before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Flann Brennan.

There was a large garda presence in court with senior officers, detectives and uniformed gardaí in attendance.

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Gardai in Santry are appealing for witnesses following today’s cash-in-transit robbery.

The incident occurred at approximately 3.15pm.

Two masked men approached and threatened cash-in-transit security staff outside a Post Office and shop on Shantalla Road.

They fled the scene on foot with a cash-box and it is understood they left the area in a car.

No one was injured during the incident.

During a follow up search Gardaí located the cash-box and all of the money taken in the raid has now been recovered.

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

Gardaí in Santry are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them

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A man who agreed to transport almost a kilogramme of cocaine to Cork has been jailed for three years along with an accomplice who had been holding the drugs for two days.

William O’Shea (30) of Dunmore Gardens, Knocknaheeney in Cork and Mark Hayden (43) of the North Circular Road, Dublin both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on April 6, 2014.

O’Shea has no previous convictions, while Hayden has one for a public order offence.

Judge Martin Nolan accepted that both men had a good work history and work ethic, had co-operated with the gardaí and had made admissions.

He said the men “committed a misjudgement” and involved themselves in a reasonably large amount of cocaine for their “own particular reasons” before he jailed them for three years.

Detective Garda Val Russell told Cathleen Noctor BL, prosecuting that gardaí had the Skylon Hotel, in Dublin under surveillance following a tip off. They saw O’Shea leave and get into a car Hayden had pulled up in.

O’Shea then got out of the vehicle carrying a bag he had not had earlier and returned to the hotel.

Gardaí moved in and searched Hayden, O’Shea and the vehicle. The cocaine, worth €68,740, was found in the bag O’Shea had with him, while nothing was found in the car.

Both were arrested and Hayden later told gardaí he had been in a pub when “a fella” asked him if he would collect a package and deliver it for €1,000. He said he was to get a phone call to pick it up and a call to tell him where and when to drop it.

He acknowledged that he knew it would be illegal and said that he had collected the drugs two days previously.

O’Shea told gardaí he had been in Dublin at a concert when he got a call asking him if he would collect something and bring it back to Cork. He said he knew it was drugs and he had a recollection of being told it was “a box of coke”.

O’Shea said he was told he would be “sorted” for his role. He had an outstanding loan of €1,400 and he agreed to do it. He said he was too afraid for his family to name anyone else involved.

Det Gda Russell agreed with Tara Burns SC, defending Hayden, that he told gardaí he had fallen behind in rent and owed money to loan sharks due to his gambling and alcohol addictions.

He agreed he was co-operative and accepted responsibility for the drugs.

Det Gda Russell agreed with Caroline Biggs SC, defending O’Shea, that he had no history of drug dealing and had never been involved in distribution prior to this.

He accepted that O’Shea was not the target of the operation and in his experience his involvement in the operation was unusual.

Det Gda Russell further accepted that O’Shea was unlikely to re-offend and his involvement had “a catastrophic impact on him and his family”.

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GARDAI fear there will be an outbreak of violence in Limerick after a member of the Keane clan was involved in a punch-up at a dole office with mobster Kurt Ryan.

Owen Treacy Jnr – a grand nephew of Christy Keane – was attacked on Tuesday outside a social welfare office in the city centre by baby-faced thug Ryan.

The pair were involved in a vicious brawl in front of shocked onlookers which spilled out on to the street.

Gun criminal Ryan has close links to a Moyross-based gang run by associates of jailed heroin dealer ‘Fat’ John McCarthy.

This same gang are believed to be behind an assassination attempt on Treacy Jnr in January. The 21-year-old was lucky to escape with his life when gunmen targeted a car he was in at Thomond Bridge. Christy Keane’s son, Joe Keane, was also in the car.
Previously, on January 2, Treacy Jnr also escaped when a gunman opened fire at him in the King’s Island area of the city.

Two days beforehand, he received slash wounds to the face and a broken nose when he was attacked in Cruises Street.

Treacy Jnr has no major criminal convictions and may have been targeted because his father gave evidence in a high-profile criminal trial.

Owen Treacy Snr was abducted with his cousin Kieran Keane in February 2003. Keane was murdered, but Treacy Snr survived and his evidence led to five members of the McCarthy-Dundon gang being jailed for life.

A source said that following the savage brawl Treacy Jnr and Ryan exchanged insults on Facebook.
“Both men went on to Facebook to claim victory, though neither man was seriously hurt. Owen Treacy posted a selfie to show his ear hadn’t been bitten off,”

Despite the demise of the Dundon brothers, gardai still fear that there could be an outbreak of violence in the city.

The Moyross-based gang – who were once aligned to the Dundon brothers – and comprises of associates of ‘Fat’ John McCarthy and criminal brothers, Eddie and Kieran Ryan, have vowed to wipe out the Keane gang.

Kurt Ryan, who is aligned to the gang, is regarded as one of the most erratic criminals operating in Limerick.
In 2011, he was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a 9mm modified semi-automatic pistol.

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After the discovery on Friday in Tipperary, two men will appear in court tonight.

The two men, in garda custody in Tipperary and Cahir Garda Stations, in relation to the discovered of a quantity of cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €700,000, following a search at Boytonrath, Boreen, Kileenasteena, New Inn, Co. Tipperary on Friday will appear at a special sitting of Nenagh District Court tonight charged in relation to the incident.

Gardai announced on Friday that they had discovered a cannabis grow house, as well as a drying house and approximately 1,100 plants of various maturities were discovered.

A single barrel shotgun was also reported to have been discovered in an operation which included members from Drugs and Detective Units in Tipperary Town, Clonmel Garda Station, Regional Surveillance Unit, Regional Support Unit, Divisional Scene of Crime, Dog Unit (Cork) and Uniform Units from the Tipperary Division.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fea...s-31202244.html

Fears of violence spreading as dissidents target Provos.

Security chiefs fear further violence after dissident terrorists began an orchestrated campaign of intimidation against pro-peace process republicans.

Former Provo bosses have ordered ex-IRA members not to get involved after a series of bomb threats and attacks across the North.
A car belonging to a Sinn Féin councillor in Derry was firebombed early yesterday while a second car belonging to another councillor had its windows smashed.
Police arrested two men, aged 17 and 23, close to the scene.
It followed a paintbomb attack on the Derry home of Sinn Féin leader Martin McGuinness the day before.
The 90-year-old mother of MEP Martina Anderson, who suffers from Alzheimers, had to be moved from her home in the city after a bomb scare.
A bomb alert at the west Belfast home of party president Gerry Adams was declared a hoax, while the party's candidate in East Derry, Caoimhe Archibald, had a death sympathy card delivered to her home by loyalists.
Security sources say they fear individuals within the main republican movement "won't stand back" if the attacks continue, despite a call from Sinn Féin for attacks to be reported to the PSNI.
"The Provos have been very disciplined over the past few years but there are always a few 'hotheads' who will see a refusal to react as cowardly," said one security source.
"That's the real danger and it is always difficult to counter-act when individuals decide to go their own way on something like this."
He referred to a speech by former British Prime Minister John Major, in Dublin 18 months ago in which Mr Major said Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were risking their lives by pursuing the peace process.
"Let me now say something that may surprise you. Throughout the process, I was acutely conscious that IRA leaders were taking a risk, too: if Albert (Reynolds) and I upset our supporters we might - as Albert put it - be 'kicked out'. That was true but the IRA's supporters were more deadly than our backbench colleagues.
"And their leaders were taking a risk too, possibly with their own lives," the former PM said at the time.
The security source told the Irish Independent: "Rather than recede with time, that risk has gotten greater with time as the Provos have wedded themselves to the PSNI.
"The dissidents know the Provos won't retaliate, but it's a very risky strategy because some Provos won't sit back and let this continue."
However, a former IRA commander in Belfast said he expected the Provisionals to "hold the line" in the face of the attacks.
There is some pressure within Provo ranks to organise public protests against the dissidents, with some suggestions that the homes of dissident republicans should be picketed.
Mr McGuinness called on the communities affected by the attacks to stand up to the dissident gangs.
"This was also an attack on the wider democratic process," said Mr McGuinness after the Derry arson attack.
"It shows the contempt of those behind these attacks for the will of the people.
"I am calling on all the community to defend the progress and gains of the peace process and to reject those intent on dragging us back to the past."
Irish Independent

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A LOVE/HATE actor has been arrested by gardai investigating an attempted armed robbery at a Dublin pub.

Darndale man Stephen Clinch (49) was still being questioned at Store Street Garda Station last night after a dramatic incident in which staff chased and overpowered two raiders on the premises.

The real-life crime drama took place at The Living Room sports pub on Findlater Place, Cathal Brugha Street, in Dublin's north inner city at around 9.30am yesterday.

The actor, who previously claimed that he was a reformed criminal, was arrested with another man by gardai at the pub after they were pinned down by the staff.

Clinch starred as Noely in Love/Hate. His character was infamously involved in a savage jail assault in which a pool cue was used to attack Fran in the final episode.



Stephen Clinch

Sources said that a sum close to €50,000 and a handgun were recovered from the scene.

A senior member of management of the business told the Herald: "I can't commend the staff highly enough. It was a very tense situation.

"I was in the middle of it all too and we had them restrained when the gardai arrived."

Staff said the two raiders entered the premises early on Monday morning.

The Living Room on Findlater Place, the Fibber McGee's pub in Parnell Street and Murray's pub on O'Connell Street are all run by The Murray Group company



The raiders threatened a member of staff with a gun in an attempt to steal a bag of cash containing some of the weekend takings. The two men then attempted to escape from the building but were pursued through the premises by up nine staff.

At one point the bungling raiders tried to flee via a door on to Parnell Street but they didn't have the security code. The duo then tried to escape through a firedoor but two individuals members of staff grabbed them and forced them to the ground.

The other staff members then joined in the scrum until two unarmed community gardai arrived to arrest them.

"It was a good outcome … I'm very happy," said the senior management member, who added there was a lot of "adrenalin" involved.

"This was a good lesson for the criminals. These were two idiots," said one delighted staff member.

A 43-year-old man who was arrested yesterday alongside Clinch is a career criminal who is currently facing serious charges before the courts.

Clinch also featured in TV3's series about his own locality 'Darndale: The Edge of Town'.

Last October Clinch, who has armed robbery convictions, was interviewed by Marian Finucane on RTE Radio One about being behind bars before rising to stardom.

He claimed that he is still haunted by his memories of the terrified people he targeted. "I do apologise but it wasn't me that was robbing them. It was my addiction, I had to feed it," he said at the time.

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Two Polish brothers who were caught with almost €3.5 million worth of cannabis and cannabis resin have been jailed for ten years.

Judge Martin Nolan said Slawomir (37) and Marcin (29) Syzmala were effectively renting a house in Meath as “a holding and storage hub” for the drugs.

He said the men were arrested following a “good garda operation” and there was evidence that they had packed “a huge amount of drugs” for distribution. He accepted that as Polish nationals they will have “extra difficulties” serving time in prison.

Slawomir of The Parklands in Santry and Marcin of Tyrellstown Plaza, Tyrellstown both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of having drugs for sale or supply at two different locations on April 17, 2014. A total of €3,489,000 worth of drugs was found.

Marcin has no previous convictions. Slawomir has served a two year jail term in Poland for burglary and has a conviction for public order from Naas District Court.

Detective Garda Darragh O’Toole told Cathleen Noctor BL, prosecuting, that a surveillance operation led officers to a farmhouse, known as Knock House, in Castletown in County Meath, where a large amount of the drugs were discovered.

The house had been rented from the owner by someone acting under an alias.

Det Gda O’Toole said a surveillance operation was initially set up by the Garda National Drugs Unit in a business park in Finglas following a garda tip off.

At 10.15am officers saw the brothers arrive at a particular unit. They remained there for about 25 minutes before they left again and drove to Castletown. They stayed there for about two hours before leaving again and driving to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.

The brothers met a man there who pulled up beside them in a people carrier. Marcin got into the back of the van he had arrived in and handed out a large packet of toilet rolls and a shopping bag to Slawomir who placed them in the back of the people carrier.

This vehicle was later stopped and searched by gardaí and almost nine kilogrammes of cannabis was found. The drugs were vacuumed packed and valued at just over €179,000.

The Syzmalas were then followed to an apartment complex in Blanchardstown where gardaí moved in and arrested them. Neither made admissions in interviews. The van they had been driving was searched and although a false panel had been fitted into the rear of the vehicle, no drugs were discovered.

A key to a second vehicle, a Mercedes van, was found and this vehicle was later discovered parked up at Knock House. Det Gda O’Toole said a key for the house was found in the Mercedes van.

During a follow up search of the building gardaí found over €1.6 million worth of cannabis resin in a storeroom. The drugs were found in shopping bags contained in boxes.

A further €1.62 million worth of cannabis was found in another room further down the hall. The drugs were piled up on the floor and covered with a sheet.

Det Gda O’Toole said a tick-list, a weighing scales and a vacuum packing machine were also found in the house. DNA found on gloves connected both brothers to the house.

Patrick Marrinan SC, defending Marcin Syzmala, said his client has been in Ireland for ten years. He initially worked as a chef in a Dublin hotel but later started up his own event management firm. He got into debt and also got involved in the “drug subculture” which counsel said led him to this offence.

Damien Colgan SC, defending Slawomir Syzmala, said his client has a daughter with a former partner, who both live in Poland.

He said he has been doing well since his remand in custody and handed in a number of certificates from courses completed by his client.

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Seizure: Wiggins was caught on a boat with cocaine worth around €400 million
A British citizen who was found onboard a boat holding more than €400 million worth of cocaine off the Irish coast has moved to appeal his conviction.

Christopher Wiggins (48) with an address at Estepona, Malaga, Spain, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine for sale or supply on November 5 2008 when the boat 'Dances With Waves' was boarded 250km off the Irish coast.

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Three British citizens including Wiggins were on board the boat when 1.9 tonnes of cocaine worth more than €400 million were found by Irish authorities. All three men pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply.

Wiggins was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on May 8 2009.

Representing himself, Wiggins moved to appeal his conviction today on grounds that a section 15A sale or supply drugs offence could not have been levied against him on the facts.

He said there was no importation involved in the offence, it was committed outside of the State so section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act should not have applied because it only has a territorial application.

Furthermore, Mr Wiggins submitted that the boarding of 'Dances With Waves' by the authorities was unlawful.

'Dances With Waves' was flying the British Red Ensign “because there were three British nationals on board” but the boat was not registered, Mr Wiggins said.

The court heard claims from Wiggins that 'Dances With Waves' was boarded at 21:54 but the boats registration was not checked by the authorities until 23:20, one hour-and-a-half after the boarding.

An Irish ship simply cannot board a vessel flying the flag of another State without doing a regisration check, he said.

'Dances With Waves' was not registered anywhere but the Navy should have confirmed its status before boarding the boat. Until you make the regisration check you can't check if the boarding would be valid or not, he said.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Thomas Creed SC, told the court that where a ship was unregistered there was a power to visit the ship

Mr Creed said the enforcement officers used the law of the sea to establish the regisration of the ship. They did that by using their right to visit 'Dances With Waves' under the law of the sea.

It wasn't an unlawful or illegal boarding, Mr Creed said, it was just a boarding.

Mr Creed said there was no basis for Mr Wiggins' argument regarding section 15a of the Misuse of Drugs Act

President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Seán Ryan, who sat with Mr Justice Gerard Hogan and Mr Justice Alan Mahon said the court would reserve judgment to a date “as soon as possible”.

One of Mr Wiggins' co-accused, Philip Doo (58), from Devon in England, withdrew his appeal before proceedings commenced.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/former-loyalist-terror-boss-tells-5688553

Former Loyalist terror boss tells court he and UDA pal Mad Dog Adair are 'top targets for Republican extremists'

A FORMER Loyalist terror boss has told a High Court jury that he and pal Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair would be “huge scalps” for dissident Republican killers.

Sam “Skelly” McCrory was giving evidence at the trial of four men accused of plotting to murder him and his best friend Adair.

Antoin Duffy, 39 Martin Hughes, 36, Paul Sands, 31 and John Gorman, 58, deny conspiring to murder Adair and McCrory – once major figures in the UDA and its “military wing” the Ulster Freedom Fighters.

Duffy and Gorman also deny being part of an alleged car bomb plot to murder the governor of Barlinnie jail.

McCrory told prosecutor Paul Kearney he and Adair were top targets for Republican extremists.

He said anyone harming them would be “held in high esteem by the Republican movement”.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Adair and McCrory had both been sentenced to 16 years for terrorist crimes but now lived in Ayrshire.

Adair said police told him in October 2013 to step up his security because his life was in danger from dissident Republicans, and that people had been arrested over a plot.

Asked if he considered himself under threat, Adair said: “All that was supposed to be over. But from their point of view, I would see myself as a target as a leader of Loyalism.”

Adair insisted he was now a man of peace and “irrelevant” to politics in Northern Ireland, but conceded that police believed he would be in danger if he returned to Ulster.

The court heard Adair commanded C Company of the UFF in Belfast’s Shankill Road during the Troubles.

Asked if his group had murdered up to 40 Catholics, he said: “It has been reported as that.”

MirrorpixSam McCrorySam McCrory
Adair denied involvement in drug dealing and said he didn’t know any of the accused.

McCrory was jailed in 1993 for conspiracy to murder and possessing machine guns. He was freed as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

He told Donald Findlay QC, for Sands, that he had only been involved in one “military operation” in Northern Ireland. He said it was a plot to kill two IRA leaders but he was caught on the way to carry it out.

McCrory claimed to have been a political prisoner and said: “I’ve never killed anyone.”

Findlay asked him: “Was Johnny Adair somebody who sent people out to murder?” McCrory replied: “No. People volunteered.”

McCrory said he knew Sands to say hello to and was his friend on Facebook. Like Adair, he denied any involvement with dealing drugs.

Adair and McCrory gave evidence on Monday but it can only be reported today after restrictions were lifted.

Duffy, Hughes, Sands and Gorman are accused of plotting with others to kill Adair and McCrory between August 2010 and October 2013.

Plans were allegedly discussed at places including Shotts jail in Lanarkshire and a flat in Old Castle Road, Shawlands, Glasgow.

It’s claimed conspirators carried out “surveillance and reconnaissance” and tried to get guns and bullets.

Duffy and Gorman also deny being involved in a conspiracy to murder Barlinnie governor Derek McGill between June 2012 and last October.

All four accused deny joining others “with the intention of committing acts of terrorism”, and Hughes, Sands and Gorman deny intending to assist Duffy in terrorist acts.

Craig Convery, 37, Gary Convery, 34, and Gordon Brown, 29, deny charges linked to the alleged plots. The trial continues.

http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/housing-estate-evacuated-after-suspect-device-found-31219951.html

Housing estate evacuated after suspect device found.

Residents of a Courtown estate have been evacuated from their homes after a suspect device was found.
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Gardai raided a house in Harbour Court on Thursday morning and found the device. The raid is part of an ongoing investigation by members of An Garda Siochana from the Special Detective Unit, Harcourt Sq and Crime & Security, Garda Headquarters into dissident republicans activity.
A total of 20 searches were carried out in Wexford, Louth and Dublin on Thursday as part of the investigation with the assistance of the Garda Emergency Response Unit, Technical Bureau, Dog Unit and uniform and detective Gardai from the Louth and Wexford Divisions.
As part of this investigation four men, one in his 60s and the other three in their 20s, were arrested.
All are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against Act at various Garda Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. They were arrested for directing terrorism, membership of an unlawful organisation and possession of explosives.
As part of this operation Gardai have recovered a suspect device in Courtown. The area has been cordoned off and the Army EOD team are on their way to the scene.
Gardai have also recovered component parts for explosives devices at some of the other locations searched. All component parts will now be subject to technical examination.
Investigations are ongoing.

http://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland/gun-jams-in-mount-vernon-attack

Gun jams in Mount Vernon attack.

The man, in his 20s, was walking along Mount Vernon Lane when two men approached him.


However, when the pair tackled the victim to the ground and one of the men produced a gun, it failed to fire.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "It was reported that at around 10.20pm, a man aged in his 20’s was approached by two masked men as he walked along an alleyway in the area and was forced to the ground.

"One of the men produced a suspected firearm from under his coat and an attempt was made to fire the weapon which is reported to have jammed.

"Both men, who were wearing gloves and dark-coloured clothing, then made off on foot."

Detective Constable Anita Cummings is appealing for anyone who was in the area last night and who may have noticed any suspicious activity to contact detectives in Musgrave on 101.

http://www.herald.ie/opinion/andrew-lync...y-31223440.html

Andrew Lynch: Dissidents' arrests shows that killers have not gone away.

ANDREW LYNCH – 15 MAY 2015 03:00 AM

Has Prince Charles just dodged a Real IRA bullet? Until we know full details of the garda security crackdown that led to the arrest of six men last Wednesday, it is impossible to say for sure.

What this operation does prove is that dissident republicans still pose a grave threat to peace in Ireland - and there can be no mercy shown in the fight to stamp them out for good.

Although Charles and his wife Camilla have been here a number of times before, next week's visit will be by far their most personal.

The itinerary includes Mullaghmore in Co Sligo, where Charles's beloved grand-uncle Lord Mountbatten was blown up by the IRA in 1979 (along with two teenage boys and an 82-year-old woman).

For the small but dedicated group of hardliners who still believe in bombing their way to a united Ireland, the idea of history repeating itself must be hard to resist.

This is why Wednesday's events were so significant. Gardai on traffic duties in Co Leitrim detained two men after finding a pistol and pipe bombs in their vehicle.

2015-05-14_new_9538551_I2.JPG
Charles and Camilla

There were also raids in counties Dublin, Wexford and Louth, resulting in more arrests and a controlled explosion to put bomb-making equipment out of use.

It appears that republican terrorism hasn't gone away.

Their 'Brits out' mentality has not changed since 1984, when the Provos came within seconds of killing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at her Brighton hotel.

"Today we were unlucky," read the chilling IRA statement afterwards. "But remember, we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always."

From our secluded vantage point down south it may seem hard to believe that this kind of fanaticism is alive and well.

After all, the Good Friday Agreement convinced most republicans to lay down their arms and embrace democracy instead.

The hold-outs initially looked like a pathetic ragbag, expertly mocked by the Northern Irish comedian Patrick Kielty: "There's the Real IRA, the Surreal IRA, the Continuity IRA, the Official IRA, the Low Fat IRA, the I Can't Believe It's Not the IRA..."

Nobody was laughing, however, when the Real IRA's Omagh bomb murdered 29 people in 1998. Or when its members shot dead two British soldiers outside a barracks in Co Antrim in 2009.

Dubliners got a taste of this organisation's sick antics at a Donaghmede funeral in 2012, where masked thugs blocked off roads and fired shots over the coffin of Alan Ryan.

While the Real IRA might have virtually no public support, it is certainly not short of cash.

According to a recent report based on data from the US State Department, it is actually the world's ninth richest terrorist organisation - with a nest egg of almost €45m.

Most of that comes from alcohol, cigarette and diesel smuggling, which are all big businesses around certain parts of the border.

execution

This week's garda crackdown deserves praise but it will take a lot more than one operation to put the Real IRA out of action.

The overwhelming majority of Irish people will give Prince Charles a cead mile failte next week, just as they did to his mother in 2011.

On the other hand, opinion polls show that roughly 20pc of us support Sinn Fein - a political party that still believes the IRA "execution" of Lord Mountbatten was fully justified.

Gerry Adams could only say, "he knew the danger involved", while one of Mountbatten's convicted killers openly canvassed for the party in last year's European elections.

When Prince Charles touches down here next Tuesday, gardai plan to put "a ring of steel" around him. They are absolutely right to do so.

As the great Irish politician John Philpot Curran once said: "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance."

It appears that we are going to need that vigilance in Ireland for a long time to come.

http://www.herald.ie/news/psycho-suspected-of-gilligan-shooting-getting-more-powerful-31230123.html

Psycho suspected of Gilligan shooting 'getting more powerful.

KEN FOY – 18 MAY 2015 03:00 AM

The chief suspect in the shooting of veteran crimelord John Gilligan last year is continuing to expand his gang activities in north Dublin.

The psychopathic Finglas criminal, who is facing serious charges before the courts, is suspected of firing four shots at Gilligan in a botched hit in the 63-year-old's brother's home in Clondalkin on March 1, 2014.

That incident happened less than three months after the same Finglas criminal is suspected of having entered the Halfway House pub on the Navan Road armed with a 9mm handgun looking for the gangster in December, 2013.

While Gilligan fled the country a fortnight after the attempted murder in Clondalkin, his arch-enemy has stayed in the capital and sources say his gang are "growing in power all the time".

"He is closely associated with around 20 fellas and they are into all kinds of crime including drug dealing, armed robberies and aggravated burglaries," a source said.

SEIZURES

"In the last few weeks this crew have been linked to up to four armed robberies and two significant drug seizures. They are a violent crew but none of them are as violent as the Gilligan suspect.

"Their power-base is in the Ratoath area of Finglas and there seems to be no stopping them at the moment."

Sources say gardai have been investigating whether the same mob were responsible for a horrific aggravated burglary on Filipino nationals at Cappagh Road, Finglas, at around 10.30pm last January 15.

A 13-year-old girl was tied up with cable-ties and two couples were threatened at gunpoint in a terrifying ordeal in what gardai believe was a case of mistaken identity.

"This crew are well capable of using the extreme violence that was used in that crime," a source said.

The "Get Gilligan" criminal was previously handed a lengthy jail sentence for a terrifying armed robbery.

It was while serving this sentence that he first met and clashed with Gilligan, and sources say he has held a major grudge against him since then.

SHOT

He was previously closely associated with Kevin Ledwidge, a 27-year-old Finglas criminal who was shot dead in July 2007.

It is understood that gardai informed the feared criminal of an active threat against his life in February of last year, and the thug decided the threat was coming from Gilligan and his associates.

Sources say he decided to strike first, but Gilligan had an extremely lucky escape and survived despite being shot four times at point-blank range in the Clondalkin attack.

Gilligan fled Ireland a fortnight later, 24 hours after his close associate and driver Stephen 'Dougie' Moran was shot dead at his home in Lucan.

Moran, originally from Limerick and related to the notorious McCarthy-Dundon gang, had acted as Gilligan's driver and bodyguard following his release from prison.

The Finglas gangster was also investigated for this murder but there have been no arrests so far in that case.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015...acks-legitimate

Irish republican detained for calling armed attacks 'legitimate'
Dee Fennell, a prominent dissident, is in custody after condoning violence in an inflammatory speech to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising

A prominent dissident Irish republican has been arrested in connection with a speech he made at Easter supporting “armed struggle”.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed on Monday that they had detained a 33-year old-man after a raid on his home in the Ardoyne district of north Belfast.
The man in custody is Dee Fennell, who told hardline republicans at a gathering in Lurgan on Easter Sunday that “armed struggle must be a contributory factor to a wider struggle”.

Fennell also described armed attacks as legitimate during his speech to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising.
He said: “The use of arms prior to 1916 was legitimate. The use of arms in Easter 1916 was legitimate. The use of arms after 1916 was totally legitimate.

“In the existing political context of partition, illegal occupation and the denial of national self-determination, armed struggle, in 2015, remains a legitimate act of resistance.”
Unionists have been demanding that Fennell be arrested, with the Ulster Unionist party election candidate in Upper Bann, Jo-Anne Dobson, describing his remarks as disgusting.
A PSNI spokesman said the suspect had been taken for questioning at the police’s serious crime suite, at Antrim.
Det Supt Karen Baxter , from the serious crime branch, said: “Detectives are also searching a property in north Belfast and one in Lurgan as part of the same investigation. Our enquiries are continuing.”
Fennell is one of the most prominent dissident republican spokesmen and also represents a residents’ group opposed to a contentious Orange Order march past the Ardoyne area, where he lives.

http://www.sundayworld.com/news/irishman-in-court-charged-over-200m-hatton-heist-in-london

Irishman in court charged over €200m Hatton Heist in London
Thursday 21st May 2015.

An Irishman is among eight people who will appear in court today charged in connection with the Hatton Garden jewellery heist in London last month.

Hugh Doyle (48), who is originally from Dublin, was arrested in connection with the audacious heist at the beginning of April.

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Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad have also charged Terry Perkins, 67, Daniel Jones, 58, both of Enfield, and William Lincoln, 59, of Bethnal Green, east London, and John Collins, 74, of Islington, north London.

Brian Reader, 76, and Paul Reader, 50, both of Dartford Road, Dartford, and Carl Wood, 58, of Elderbeck Close, Cheshunt, also face the same charge.

All eight have been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court today. A ninth man has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Doyle, 48, of Riverside Gardens, Enfield, was described by neighbours yesterday as "always willing to lend a hand."



An elderly neighbour, who didn't wish to be named, told MailOnline she had never seen 'anything of this sort' in her 46 years of living in his street.

"They [the police] were there when I came to open the gate to the dustman at 8.30 this morning," the neighbour said.

"Everyone knows him. The local pub knows him very well. He was not a bad man, he was a helpful person always willing to lend a hand. I am just very surprised. We are shocked.

"The neighbour, who lives just a few doors down, said: 'It's terrible when I see that people are such nice people, and then you come across these sorts of things. He has two lovely kids."

Doyle, a married father-of-two, is understood to run a heating and plumbing business, Associated Response and a high powered motorcycle, bearing the firm’s livery was parked outside the house, where police continued to carry out searches earlier this week.

A Facebook page linked to the firm shows Mr Doyle in happier times piloting a variety of small aircraft and also crewing a yacht with friends.



Earlier, the Met apologised after facing criticism over is handling of the break-in at Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company in London's jewellery quarter.

It emerged that a call from a security firm about an intruder alert at the company shortly after midnight on Good Friday was deemed not to require a response.
Officers believe they entered the building, which houses a number of businesses, through a communal entrance before disabling the lift so they could climb down the lift shaft to the basement.

It is thought that they then forced open shutter doors and used a drill to bore a hole 20in deep, 10in high and 18in into the vault wall.

Once inside, the thieves ransacked 72 safety deposit boxes, taking millions of pounds worth of goods.

Detectives from the Flying Squad apologised after confirming that alarm response procedures had not been followed, but rejected the suggestion that they were bungling "Keystone Cops".

Commander Peter Spindler said: "On this occasion, the systems and processes that we have in place with the alarm companies weren't followed and, as a result of that, officers did not attend the premises when, in fact, they probably should have done and for that I want to apologise."

A more detailed investigation into the defeat of the alarm system is continuing and Scotland Yard says it will share any lessons learnt.

It is unknown exactly how much the robbers took in the heist but reports suggest it could total over €300 million.

http://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland/uvf-boss-breaks-ceasefire-with-shoot-order

UVF boss breaks ceasefire with shoot order.

Terror boss Davy ‘Whitecap’ Miller broke the UVF ceasefire last week when he ordered an alleged drug dealer to be shot.

The Sunday World understands the UVF’s commander in Mount Vernon personally ordered a punishment shooting on a man in the north Belfast estate last Tuesday evening.

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Reliable sources in the area claim the victim had a lucky escape after he was forced to the ground by two masked men, only for the gun to jam.

Miller has been creaming thousands of pounds from drug dealers in the estate in recent months. One man claimed the UVF boss demanded £10,000 from him in return for to be allowed to trade without sanction.

Last week’s target was on his way through the estate when he was accosted by the two men.

Sources have told us he was forced to the ground and told he was to be shot in the legs.

The gun jammed twice before the punishment squad panicked and fled the scene.

The Sunday World understands the handgun used had been a re-activated gun, previously decommissioned.

“These guns are notoriously unreliable,” said our source. “Nine times out of ten they jam, if they don’t clear second time round you may forget it.”

There has been little reaction to the shooting which constitutes a breach of the UVF ceasefire.

“The UVF are bringing guns on to the street, Is that not a breach of the ceasefire?”

Miller has come under increasing pressure in the recent weeks. Last month he was detained and questioned by the PSNI in relation to a punishment beating dished out to former UVF comrade Darren Moore.

One time jailbird Moore is believed to have made a statement to cops alleging Miller was involved in the attack which left him with two broken arms and legs.

This latest punishment attack comes as Miller and the UVF in Mount Vernon target drug dealers. Miller himself has developed a major cocaine habit and is regarded by many as being out of control.

His orders to shoot someone will be viewed with alarm by the UVF leadership and it’s not the first time the terror group has used a previously decommissioned weapon.

In October 2000 UDA chief Tommy English was fatally shot at his home in Ballyfore Gardens, on the Ballyduff estate in Newtownabbey by a group of four men.

His three children were inside the house at the time of about 18.30 when the men entered through the back door as his wife, Doreen was preparing food for a Halloween party. She called out to her husband and attempted to close the door but they pushed past her, one of the men shouting “Get out of the f*****g way, Doreen”.
The murder was carried out by the UVF at the height of the loyalist feud.

The Sunday World understands the murder weapon was a re-activated pistol, although one of the men was also armed with a shotgun – back up should the pistol fail.

A number of prominent loyalists were charged with the English murder, including one time Mount Vernon commander Mark Haddock. All walked free after the trial collapsed.

Miller, South East Antrim Brigadier Den Elliott and former lifer Billy McCartney from north Belfast were all scooped last month on the word of former pal Moore.

No was charged but the move caused anxiety in loyalist circles.

There has been growing speculation in recent months that former Mount Vernon goon Moore has agreed to become a supergrass, ready to give evidence against his terrorist comrades in return for a new identity and light sentence.

This latest development is being seen as the first step along that road.

Moore was furious at his treatment at the hands of the UVF two years ago. He had been lured to a meeting at the Monkstown club in Glengormley on the pretence of discussing allegations of drug dealing .

Once there he was dragged outside and hammered by five baseball bat wielding thugs. Battered and broken , he was dumped in the grounds of a primary school.
The loyalist heavy needed metal pins inserted into his arms and legs.
The punishment style attack wasn’t sanctioned by the UVF leadership on the Shankill but despite pleas from Moore the organisation refused to move against their Mount Vernon team.

Miller is believed to have taken in after cops called at his Mount Vernon home.

richard.sullivan@nth.sundayworld.com

http://utv.ie/News/2015/05/20/Man-jailed-for-shooting-father-in-front-of-his-daughter-37603

Keith O'Neill, 40, from Lissadell Drive, Drimnagh in Dublin had pleaded not guilty to murdering John Wilson, 35, on 28 September, 2012 at his home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot Dublin 10.

John Wilson was shot twice in the hallway of his house more than two years ago.

The two-week trial heard that the daughter of the deceased told Gardai in a statement: "I just heard 'bang bang bang' - I could see my dad rolling around. I feel a little bit sad and a little happy because my dad is away from the bad boys now".

The Central Criminal Court heard that the deceased had driven to his home with his seven-year-old daughter and a friend when a gunman entered his house through the open front door and shot him from behind.

The Dublin man received two gunshot wounds to the left arm and to the chest, fatally injuring internal organs.

Conor Devally SC prosecuting today confirmed with Detective Inspector Colm O'Malley of Clondalkin Garda Station that a vehicle drew up outside Mr Wilsons house on 28 September.

"A person came out of the newly arrived vehicle who in the eyes of Mr Wilsons daughter appeared to have some form of coverage on his face. A weapon was discharged six times hitting Mr Wilson twice - one of those shots caused massive blood loss," he said.

"The gunman made good his escape, jumping into the back of a vehicle. Items were found in a nearby burnt out vehicle which included items that had been purchased by the accused," he said.

"Shortly thereafter the accused, having shed one garment, got a lift back to Ballyfermot where he joined his family in a local chipper. He then went to Liffey Valley shopping centre - having changed in the shopping centre, when he got home he endeavoured to dispose of runners, jeans and socks and was seen disposing of them in a skip," continued Mr Devally.

"Examination affirmed there was gunshot residue on the jeans. There was evidence that there was petrol vapour emanating from the socks. Mr O'Neill was detained and he denied his involvement," he said.

The jury were shown CCTV footage of what Gardaí identified as both the accused man and the deceased at a shop on Cherry Orchard Avenue hours before the shooting.

Neighbour of the deceased, Robert McHugh previously described hearing the gunshots.

"I remember hearing gunshots - I looked out the window and seen a hooded figure come out the door. I couldn't see his face - his face was covered," he said.

"I made my way towards the house - his daughter was trying to get into the house. She was upset and I stopped her going into the house. John was lying on the ground struggling to breath," he said.

The court heard that Dublin Fire Brigade attended and an advanced paramedic from the HSE took over. Resuscitation was continuous for over an hour and when there was no change, it was decided to cease resuscitation.

Taking to the stand State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy told Conor Devally that the fatal injury was the gunshot wound to the chest which injured internal organs.

The jury of five women and seven men deliberated for three hours thirty-nine minutes over two days before reaching a unanimous verdict.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt told the jury he would make no observations on their verdict.

"It is entirely sensible based on the evidence I heard. I am not going to speculate as to what the background of this case is," he said.

"I will proceed to pass the mandatory life sentence and express sincere sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of Mr Wilson and in particular his daughter."

© UTV Ireland

http://www.herald.ie/news/armed-gardai-ram-gangster-zambra-off-road-to-foil-shooting-31265391.html

Armed gardai ram gangster Zambra off road to foil shooting.

KEN FOY AND ROBIN SCHILLER – 30 MAY 2015 08:00 AM

Notorious criminal Paul Zambra has been arrested on his way to carry out a suspected gangland hit.

A BMW driven by Zambra in Clonshaugh Avenue on Dublin's northside was rammed off the road by a garda vehicle at lunchtime yesterday.

Armed detectives surrounded the car, weapons drawn and shouting at the occupants to get out.

"It was like something out of a warzone. I've never seen anything like it. There were guns everywhere," one witness told the Herald.

Two loaded handguns were found in the BMW, and Zambra was arrested by officers from the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

swerved

Sources believe the target of the hit was Dubliner Dean Russell (44), the brother of Anthony Russell who was shot dead in an Artane pub in 2008.

The heavily armed ERU were joined by members of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, with up to 10 different garda units employed in the operation.

"It was all very quiet, like it normally is on the road, when all hell broke lose," another witness said.

"This car was driving up the road and out of nowhere a 4x4 swerved in front to block it. Then a load of unmarked and marked cars showed up.

"It was well-organised because they were there in a flash."

Another resident of the avenue said: "There were armed gardai, guns out, running towards the vehicle screaming at the occupants to get out of the car.

"They took the driver out and put him in handcuffs. They then searched the boot and pulled out what looked like guns. There were dozens of gardai everywhere."

Zambra, who is in his late 30s, was arrested and remained in custody in Coolock Garda Station last night.

At around the same time yesterday afternoon, gardai stopped a van in nearby Clonshaugh Road and another man, aged 44, was arrested and was also being quizzed overnight.

Ballyfermot man Zambra was cleared of a gangland murder in 2012.

He had pleaded not guilty to murdering Sean McMahon (36) at his Tallaght home in 2007.

stabbed

During the trial, the jury was sent away while all sides dealt with a legal issue.

When they returned, the prosecutor said he was not offering any further evidence and the judge acceded to a defence request to direct the jury to acquit.

Zambra has a number of previous convictions, including a 10-year stretch handed down in July 1997 for an incident in which he stabbed three prison officers with a syringe filled with his hepatitis C-infected blood while trying to escape from the Mater Hospital.

He admitted a number of armed robberies in March, July and August 1996.

The brother of the suspected target in yesterday's incident, Anthony Russell, was gunned down in the Arlea Inn, Artane, in April 2008.

The dead man was a close associate of paedophile north inner city gang boss Christy Griffin.

One theory last night on yesterday's suspected attempted murder is that it might be linked to a dispute with a Coolock criminal who has just been released from jail.

http://www.sundayworld.com/news/news/hit-team-placed-tracker-on-target-s-car

Hit's not me: Gangster Russell says mob pair were not sent to take him out.

The gangster believed to have been the target of a hit foiled by gardai has denied he is involved in a feud, saying: “If they wanted to kill me there are easier ways to do it.”

On Friday afternoon, heavily-armed officers dramatically arrested armed robber Paul Zambra and convicted criminal Anthony ‘the Giant’ Callaghan on Clonshaugh Avenue in north Dublin.

Two firearms were found in a BMW being driven by Zambra, while O’Callaghan was arrested in a nearby van.

It is believed the pair were on their way to the home of one of north Dublin’s most notorious criminal figures, CAB target Dean Russell (46).

Gardai are investigating if they foiled a hit on Russell, whose brother Anthony was shot dead as part of the Sheriff Street feud in Artane in 2008. However,

Russell told the Sunday World he does not believe he was the target.

“The police knocked up to my house after they arrested them and my daughter was there. They said they were checking under the car for pipe bombs, but they haven’t come back since and I haven’t been informed my life is in danger.”
“This is nothing to do with me. I wasn’t even in the country yesterday. I only got back to the house at 6.15am today. If they wanted to kill me there are plenty of easier ways to do it.”

He said gardai did call to his home after the arrests and checked under a car in the driveway.

“The police knocked up to my house after they arrested them and my daughter was there. They said they were checking under the car for pipe bombs, but they haven’t come back since and I haven’t been informed my life is in danger.”

It is believed gardai also checked under the vehicle for a tracking device, but Russell said he is unaware if they found one.

Russell, who has a number or convictions, including one for armed robbery, said he is no longer invovled in crime and can see no reason why anyone would target him.

“I don’t have dealings with criminals. I keep a close set of friends, I don’t have any enemies. I’m not involved in feuding, I don’t owe any money, I don’t know Zambra or Callaghan. I don’t even know what they look like.”

“I’ve got letters before five or six times saying my life is in danger. My brother got a letter the day he was killed and he went out that day and he was killed.

I haven’t got any letters recently and the police haven’t been up to my house since.”

He added that there are two other feuds going on in the area and it may be related to them.

“I’m adamant it was nothing to do with me. Unless it’s something I don’t know about and I normally have a good idea.”

Gardai foiled a previous hit attempt on Russell in 2009. Criminals from the north inner city were involved in that plot.



Anthony Russell.

Russell said all he wanted to do was get on with his life and that the publicity has upset him.

“I’m only interested in raising my kids and my grandkids and being invovled in Kilmore Celtic.

“And, you know, it has not only upset me, but it has also upset all of my family. I’m disgusted that this is all in the papers and the neighbours are all hearing about this.”

“I just want to be left alone. I don’t know why my name is getting dragged into all of this again.”

Russell has a number of convictions and CAB secured a €400,000 judgement against him in 2014. Judge George Bermingham said Russell had “a prolonged and deep history” with criminality.

Russell said that people have an impression he’s a “multi-millionaire gangster”, but that isn’t the case.

“The houses are all repossessed, other than the family home I’m living in for 20 years. I have had dealings with CAB, but that’s over stuff going back years.

Witnesses to the latest incident said they were shocked when gardai moved in to make their arrests.

“There was a car driving down the road and out of nowhere a two jeeps came along and blocked it in. Suddenly there were unmarked cars everywhere,” said a witness.

Armed officers from the Emergency Response Unit along with the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and other units were involved in the operation.

They had the suspects under surveillance as part of an intelligence-led operation and moved in to prevent the shooting taking place.

A source said: “They were being monitored in the run-up to Friday and there was information they were planning to carry out the attack.”

Sources said a tracking device had been placed on Russell’s car in the lead-up to Friday.

It is understood gardai had the criminals under electronic and physical surveillance and it is hoped as well as possession of firearms they may be charged with conspiracy to murder.

Zambra, from Ballyfermot, was cleared of a gangland shooting three years ago. He had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sean McMahon (36), who was shot dead in Tallaght in 2007.

There was a legal argument during the trial and afterwards the prosecution said they were not offering any more evidence. As a result the judge directed the jury to acquit Zambra.

He has several previous convictions, including a 10-year sentence for stabbing three prison officers with a syringe filled with hepatitis C-infected blood when he tried to escape from the Mater Hospital.



Gardai believe they may have foiled a hit.

He also has convictions for a number of armed robberies and has been arrested numerous times for major gangland crimes.

His associates were linked to the murders of Brian Downes (40) and Edward Ward (24), in Crumlin in October 2007 and career criminal John Berney in March 2008.

Callaghan, with an address in Clonee, west Dublin, is a drug dealer who recently served an eight-year sentence for the attempted armed robbery of a bookmaker coming back from the Irish Grand National. Gardai foiled the robbery after receiving intelligence that Callaghan and four other men had planned to hold up John Carthy of Chronicle Bookmakers on April 17, 2006.

The gang armed with weapons approached Mr Carthy, but didn’t realise there was a detective hidden in the back of a jeep and more gardai watching the group.

The Criminal Assets Bureau secured a €1.3m judgement against Callaghan in 2009

Gardai previously foiled another hit attempt on Russell’s life in January 2009. Gardai spotted Gerard Byrne (25) and Paul Beatty (28) in a stolen Audi A5 on Russell’s Road on January 21, 2009.

A Magnum revolver, two petrol cans and latex gloves were found in the car. Beatty later told a prison officer he had been on a “mission” to “whack” someone.

Byrne was previously questioned by gardai over the murder of Gavin McCarthy (22) who was shot dead on Sheriff Street in October 2008. Byrne was 17 at the time of the killing.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/sean-scully-shooting-man-quizzed-5809923

Sean Scully shooting: Man quizzed over gun attack which left schoolboy paralysed.

The man in his 30s was taken into custody in Courtown, Co Wexford, on Saturday and questioned over the shooting last year.

The main suspect in the shooting of schoolboy Sean Scully has been arrested and quizzed by gardai, we can reveal.

The man in his 30s was taken into custody in Courtown, Co Wexford on Saturday and questioned over the shooting last year.

The suspect was later released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

Sean, 6, suffered permanent damage to his spinal cord after being hit below the neck by a stray bullet outside his family home.

He had been playing with friends in Croftwood Gardens in Ballyfermot, West Dublin , on June 13 when a row broke out between a relative and two brothers who live in the area.

The men left but returned with a handgun.

The intended victim ran when the attacker fired and the shots missed him but hit Sean – one bullet went through his body above his collarbone and ruptured nerves in his neck.

Sean’s uncle, Keith Lyons, was later arrested but was not a suspect for the shooting.

He was questioned by detectives about withholding information but was later released without charge.

Gardai have identified a “suspect or suspects” in their investigation.

Sean Scully
Despite the awful news that Sean will never walk again his parents Karl and Gillian are grateful he is still alive and has retained his personality.

They are also hopeful he will be able to return to school at St Ultans sometime in the future but recognise the rehab is going to be a long process.

Sean is doing rehabilitation and education at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.

At the time of his shooting, Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald vowed to bring those responsible for Sean’s shooting to justice.

Ms Fitzgerald said: “ An Garda Siochana is determined to bring to justice those involved and I am sure they have full support in identifying the perpetrators.”

Last year, Sean’s mum describing the horrifying attack on radio and said it was “bedlam” when her son was shot.

She added: “Sean was on the ground and was asking, ‘Help me up’. He didn’t know what had happened.

“They operated on the Sunday and got the bullet out but it damaged the top of his spine.”

A garda spokesman confirmed the arrest of a male over the weekend in relation to Sean’s shooting.

The spokesman said: “Gardai investigating the shooting of Sean Scully in Ballyfermot on June 13th 2014 have arrested a male in his 30’s in the Courtown area of Co Wexford on Sat 30th May 2015.

“He has since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

http://www.sundayworld.com/news/northern-ireland/man-to-be-prosected-for-murder-of-jean-mcconville

Man to be prosecuted for murder of Jean McConville.

The prosecution of a veteran republican accused of involvement in the murder of Belfast mother of 10 Jean McConville is to proceed.

After a number of court extensions to consider their case, prosecutors had been given a final deadline of today to indicate whether they would be pursuing the case against Ivor Bell.

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A lawyer for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) ended mounting public uncertainty around the case this morning when he told judge George Connor it would be proceeding.

"A decision has now been taken to prosecute this defendant," he said.

Bell, 78, from Ramoan Gardens in west Belfast, was arrested and charged in March last year.

He is charged with aiding and abetting the murder of the widow who was abducted from her home in west Belfast in 1972.

He is further accused of IRA membership.

Bell, wearing a dark grey shirt, sat impassively in the dock of Belfast Magistrates' Court during the short hearing.

Two of Mrs McConville's children, Michael and Suzanna, watched proceedings from the public gallery.

Part of the Crown's case against Bell is based on a tape police secured from an oral history archive collated by Boston College.

The college interviewed a series of former paramilitaries on the understanding their accounts would remain unpublished until their deaths.

But that undertaking was rendered meaningless when the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) won a court battle in the US to secure the recordings.

Detectives claim one of the interviews was given by Bell - a claim the defendant denies.

A voice analyst has been assigned to the case.

Mrs McConville was dragged from her home in the Divis flats by an IRA gang of up to 12 men and women after being accused of passing information to the British Army in Belfast - an allegation discredited by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman.

She was shot in the back of the head and buried 50 miles from her home.

The IRA did not admit her murder until 1999 when information was passed to police in the Irish Republic.

She became one of the "Disappeared'' and it was not until August 2003 that her remains were eventually found on Shelling Hill beach, Co Louth.

No-one has been convicted of her murder.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was last year arrested and questioned as part of the police investigation into Mrs McConville's death.

The Louth TD has consistently rejected allegations made to Boston College by former republican colleagues including Brendan Hughes and Dolours Price that he had a role in ordering her death.

The PPS continues to review a file on Mr Adams.

Bell is due back in court in six weeks' time when a date will be set for a preliminary inquiry to establish whether the case will proceed to trial in the Crown Court.

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In Dublin’s south inner city officers made 26 arrests as part of ‘Operation Tempest’, targeting one of the biggest heroin dealing gangs in the country.

Reports indicate that some of those arrested have connections to heroin kingpin Greg Lynch, who survived an attempt on his life in 2013 when he was blasted with a shotgun in a botched hit.



Greg Lynch

As well as Dublin criminals 25 people were charged in Cork city and seven in Wexford.

Of the seven, five are from the one family; mother and father Billy and Margaret Connors and their three sons Paddy, Johnny and James.

All five appeared in Wexford district court on Tuesday.

In Cork gardai under ‘Operation Emerson’ made 25 arrests, nine of whom were women.

In total more than 100 garda raids were conducted in less than 48 hours.

Searches were carried out on more than 50 residential addresses by drug unit personal supported by Regional Support Units, Detective units, Dog Units and the Drug and Organised Crime Bureau.


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The unusual thing was the drugs were discovered concealed in a consignment of soap
A large amount of cannabis has been seized by Customs Officers in Dublin city.

As part of an intelligence-led operation involving Revenue’s Customs Service and An Garda Síochána today, officers seized approximately 50 kilos of herbal cannabis.

The unusual thing was the drugs were discovered concealed in a consignment of soap.

The drugs were seized following a controlled delivery in Dublin city centre.

The consignment is estimated to be worth approximately €1 million.

Three Irish men, aged between 24 and 34 years, were arrested and are being detained at Mountjoy Garda Station, a spokesperson said.

Investigations are ongoing and Gardai are said to be happy the streets are a little cleaner.

"These operations use advanced analytical and intelligence methods to disrupt criminals and dismantle their networks," a Gardai spokesperson said.

"Drug seizures play a critical role in targeting the livelihood of criminals and reducing their ability to carry out illegal activities. Drug seizures also help protect communities from the devastating impact of drugs and the associated criminality."

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Gardai have arrested a man for the fatal shooting of an innocent man in Clonsilla last night.

Gardai in Blanchardstown investigating the fatal shooting of a male Shelerin Road, Clonsilla on the 12th June 2015 have arrested a 32-year-old man.

The man was arrested in Meath earlier this morning and he is being detained at Blanchardstown Garda station under the provisions of section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 1997.

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Keith Walker (36), died instantly when he was shot in the daylight gangland hit as he was delivering birds to a pigeon club on Shelerin Road, Blanchardstown.

It is understood that Mr Walker was an innocent victim of mistaken identity after he got out of a car linked to the intended target.

Amid the mayhem, an innocent taxi driver was also shot twice in the arm. His injuries are not too serious.

The dead man, from Clondalkin, was described last night as an innocent man who had no previous criminal convictions.

A notorious hitman who was a former senior member of the infamous Westies gang was the intended target. It is understood that Mr Walker had simply been doing him a favour by visiting the pigeon club.

The intended target previously had been savagely assaulted by slain Real IRA figure Alan Ryan's gang.

He is also the chief suspect for the gangland murder of Lithuanian crime boss Gintaras Zelvys (43) at a business park in Rathcoole in May 2013.

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Terror boss declares gun war on Ulster drug gangs


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Dissident godfather Damien McKenna has declared war on drugs barons.

We unmask him today as the ‘main man’ who has vowed to ‘clean up’ the drugs trade in the gang heartlands of Lurgan and Portadown – once the crime fiefdom of the loyalist LVF and its blood brothers, Billy and Drew ‘The Piper’ King.

But today we reveal that Damien McKenna is the new head of the Continuity IRA gang that has local drug gangs in their sights.

And we expose how his avowed violent campaign, driven by desperation to gain credibility for his terrorist outfit, is set to spark a blood-soaked dissident/criminal feud that could even see dissident factions turn their guns upon each other.

For the Sunday World can reveal McKenna has already targeted a drug dealing gang headed by a family member of Colin Duffy’s most trusted associate.

Tensions have been growing in recent weeks after the CIRA declared their intention to purge nationalist estates in the Lurgan, Craigavon and Portadown areas of drug dealing criminals who are prepared to fight to the bitter end, desperate to protect their lucrative trade.

One of the main gangs in CIRA’s line of fire, who have dubbed themselves ‘The Firm’, is headed up by the 24-year-old son of one of Duffy’s closest comrades.

While Duffy has no involvement in the drug trade his associate’s son has been freely using Duffy’s name as a ‘free pass’ to deal drugs, believing this is his ‘passport’ to protection.

Up until now this has worked, with both him and ‘The Firm’ raking in thousands of pounds every week. Now, however, the CIRA have vowed that the clock is ticking and ‘The Firm’s’ drug dealing empire is set to be crushed.

“The Continuity IRA has effectively declared all-out war against the drug gangs in the area though they seem to have made drugs pushers in the Kilwilkie Estate their priority. The police aren’t the only ones to be watching these developments closely; this could explode at any minute. Extreme violence and murder is imminent,” said a security source.

The Sunday World can also reveal members of the New IRA have visited members of the CIRA to warn them off from targeting the Lurgan drug dealer.

However the drugs dealers ‘minders’, the New IRA, have been told he will not be protected because of his well-known connection to Duffy.

This has also been seen by some as a direct snub to Duffy, the CIRA making it clear they have no respect for his alleged seniority in the dissident world.

Last month it was reported locally that the gang leader’s home had been shot at. Police are understood to have received no reports of the incident.

But the Sunday World can reveal a CIRA ‘hit squad’ arrived at the house armed, but their target was not at home.

Last weekend the same CIRA ‘team’ also ambushed a home belonging to another member of ‘The Firm’ during a house party.

They failed to gain entry yet a confrontation later turned to violence with members of both sides receiving injuries.

“One of the CIRA team was sliced and one of the druggies ended up with a busted arm. It’s getting out of control and now you have elements of the New IRA involved trying to flex their muscles in order to protect one of their own’s son,” said one well-placed local source.

“The CIRA have already turned up at the drug bosses home armed with a gun however he was not on the premises. CIRA, dubbed locally as the Contos, are determined to wipe out ‘The Firm’. They don’t give a f**k who he is related to or who he knows,” the source said

The drugs godfather in CIRA’s sights -- his identity is known to this newspaper but we can’t name him, at present, for legal reasons -- has recently bought a gun from the LVF for £400 for his own protection.
“He bought it from the King brothers for 400 quid and he wants everyone to know he has it. Though dealing with the LVF is only going to make matters worse.

“He knows his life is in danger and the Contos mean business. If he is taken out there will be all-out war, Duffy’s mate will make sure of it,” he added.

The Sunday World understands that, unlike other dissident gangs like Oglaigh na hEireann, the CIRA in Armagh are not extorting the dealers for money or taking back- handers to turn a blind eye to their activities.

The CIRA have recently staged regular patrols in the Lurgan area. A statement which accompanied the recent pictures reads : ‘Volunteers from the Continuity Irish Republican Army pictured patrolling the streets of Lurgan, Co. Armagh on the lookout England’s armed colonial police, the RUC/PSNI and undercover British soldiers who are operating unwanted across occupied Ireland’.

In 2009 Damien McKenna was jailed for 15 years for his role in a plot to kill police officers with a mortar bomb in Lurgan.

McKenna, alongside Gary Toman and Sean McConville pleaded guilty.

Gary Toman

The police said they believed the men were members of the Continuity IRA.

The mortar was designed to be fired horizontally into a passing police or Army vehicle.

The men were being watched by members of an Army Special Forces unit in March 2007 with McKenna being under observation for up to six months.

Dissident sources say he has risen up the ranks of the CIRA since his release from jail.

The CIRA is now active only in North Armagh and Limerick.

Republicans dressed in full military attire march down busy Dublin road.



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REPUBLICANS dressed in full military attire took part in a broad daylight march down a busy Dublin road this afternoon.

The march was by a group called the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) - considered the political wing of the outlawed Irish National Liberation Army (INLA).

Eight men dressed in black military uniforms with berets and sunglasses led the march.

They carried flags and banners as part of the procession down the busy Bohernabreena Road in Tallaght in south Dublin, causing some traffic disruption.


It was part of a commemoration for former INLA member John Morris who was shot dead by armed gardai while taking part in an attempted robbery of a premises in 1997.


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The march, which was made up of around 60 people including women and young children, began at around 2pm.

It continued to the grave of John Morris at Bohernabreena cemetery where a wreath was laid and a member of the organisation gave an address.

He said Morris' death was an act of "cold-blooded murder".

He called on those gathered to "follow his example" and to continue to oppose austerity and water charges.

The slain INLA member's family took part in the march and placed a card on his grave.

Plain-clothes gardai were present and combed the gathered crowd beforehand taking the names and addresses of many of those in attendance.



It's understood there were at least two convicted members of the INLA in attendance at the event.

Sources added the event passed off peacefully without incident.


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THE case against a teenager accused of possession of an estimated €70,000 worth of cocaine could be struck out if forensic analysis is not completed, a court heard.


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Lee McCarthy (19) is charged with having the drug in west Dublin four months ago.

The case against him was adjourned after Blanchardstown District Court heard the directions of the DPP are still not available.

Mr McCarthy, of Foxdene Gardens, Clondalkin, is charged with possession of cocaine for sale or supply at Neilstown Gardens last February 7.

Sgt Mary Doherty said a certificate of analysis and the directions of the DPP were still outstanding.

There was a “large quantity” concerned, and Sgt Doherty told Judge Alan Mitchell the approximate value was estimated to be €70,000.

She said the prosecution was seeking further time.

The DPP’s directions state whether a case can be dealt with summarily at district court level or should be sent for trial to the circuit criminal court.

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Defence solicitor Thomasina Connell asked how long the DPP’s directions would take.

Sgt Doherty said certificates of analysis took some time and there were delays at the Forensic Science Laboratory.

Judge Mitchell marked the adjournment peremptory against the State, meaning the charges could be struck out if directions are not available on the next day.

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Innocent: Keith Walker
A notorious Dublin gang boss who is suspected of being behind the shooting dead of innocent dad Keith Walker has been arrested by gardaí.

The 38-year-old, who was once head of the Westies gang, was arrested by gardaí investigating Friday's attack which saw Mr Walker (36) gunned down in broad daylight.

Mr Walker died after he was shot repeatedly by a gunman dressed as a woman on Sherwin Road, Clonsilla, in what gardaí believe to be a case of mistaken identity.

Last night gardaí were questioning the notorious Dublin criminal, who was a close associate of slain crime bosses Eamon 'The Don' Dunne and Michael 'Micka' Kelly, about the murder, the Herald reports.

It is thought that the intended target of Friday's shooting, Jay O'Connor, was behind a 2012 attack on the gang boss's life.

Both O'Connor and the chief suspect in this latest attack were both members of the Westies gang but fell out some years ago.



O'Connor was suspected of being linked to an attack which saw the mobster shot six times as he sat in a car in Hartstown in 2012. Sources say that the feud has been ongoing for some time.

This is not the first time that O'Connor has been caught up in a dispute with former associates.

The Clondalkin-based gangster previously fell foul of the Real IRA and had one of his fingers chopped off at the direction of Real IRA boss Alan Ryan.

He was tortured and beaten at Fairview Park in north Dublin, where one of his severed fingers was later found.

O'Connor was also a suspect in the murder of a Lithuanian crime boss in 2013. Gintaras Zelvys was shot twice in the body with a handgun as he arrived with his wife to open up his 'cash for clothes' business in the Greenogue industrial estate, Rathcoole, west Dublin.

It is believed that Mr Walker, a father-of-two, was shot because he arrived at a pigeon club in a car linked to O'Connor. The pair were friends, though Mr Walker - who was due to wed his fiancée shortly - had no ties to criminal activity.

Mr Walker was very active in his local community in Clondalkin and refereed underage football matches.

Two other men are being questioned in connection with the murder investigation. One man was arrested on Saturday morning in Meath. The final two arrests took place following a series of raids on Saturday evening.


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Retribution: Walker and O'Connor were friends
The intended target of a fatal shooting that left a father-of-two dead has declared: 'There's going to be war'.

Innocent man Keith Walker (36) was gunned down in broad daylight on Shelerin Road, Clonsilla on Friday afternoon.

He died after he was shot repeatedly by a gunman dressed as a woman, in what gardaí believe to be a case of mistaken identity.

A notorious Dublin gang boss who is suspected of being behind the shooting dead of the innocent dad has been arrested by gardaí.

The 38-year-old notorious criminal was once head of the Westies gang and was a close associate of slain crime bosses Eamon 'The Don' Dunne and Michael 'Micka' Kelly.

Now, the intended target of the attack, believed to be Jay O'Connor, who is believed to have been behind a 2012 attack on the gang boss's life, has spoken out.

Speaking to the Irish Sun, he said of his rivals: "They won't see the end of the week".

Both O'Connor and the chief suspect in this latest attack were both members of the Westies gang but fell out some years ago.


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O'Connor was suspected of being linked to an attack which saw the mobster shot six times as he sat in a car in Hartstown in 2012. Sources say that the feud has been ongoing for some time.

O'Connor has reacted with a foul-mouthed tirade to the Irish Sun newspaper this morning.

"I'll tell you a story, there's going to be a f***ing war in Blanchardstown - they are f***ing dead, stone f***ing dead," he said.

This is not the first time that O'Connor has been caught up in a dispute with former associates.

The Clondalkin-based gangster previously fell foul of the Real IRA and had one of his fingers chopped off at the direction of Real IRA boss Alan Ryan.

He was tortured and beaten at Fairview Park in north Dublin, where one of his severed fingers was later found.

O'Connor was also a suspect in the murder of a Lithuanian crime boss in 2013. Gintaras Zelvys was shot twice in the body with a handgun as he arrived with his wife to open up his 'cash for clothes' business in the Greenogue industrial estate, Rathcoole, west Dublin,

It is believed that Mr Walker, a father-of-two, was shot because he arrived at a pigeon club in a car linked to O'Connor. The pair were friends, though Mr Walker - who was due to wed his fiancée shortly - had no ties to criminal activity.

Mr Walker was very active in his local community in Clondalkin and refereed underage football matches.

Two other men are being questioned in connection with the murder investigation. One man was arrested on Saturday morning in Meath. The final two arrests took place following a series of raids on Saturday evening.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/mcnarry-urges-pm-to-confirm-ban-on-dissidents-1-6801507

McNarry urges PM to confirm ban on dissidents.


Definitive confirmation is being sought that the Government’s new anti-extremism measures will cover dissident republicans in Northern Ireland.

David McNarry revealed that he had written to both the Prime Minister and Home Secretary in May, asking them to include such groups within a list of organisations to be targeted.

He has since received a reply saying “all forms of extremism” will be covered by the Government’s new strategy.





However, Mr McNarry still aims to obtain a concrete assurance that dissident groups will be mentioned explicitly.


The Strangford MLA, who is Ukip’s leader in Northern Ireland, said: “I asked the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to include Irish republican organisations, particularly republican dissident organisations, in the list of extreme roups to be targeted.

“I explained that the dissident threat was a major problem in this part of the UK and is already a major pressure on police resources here.

“I reminded them that it was equally a problem on the mainland.”

He then received a response from Lord Ahmad, the minister in charge of tackling extremism.





Lord Ahmad’s letter, dated June 8, said new legislation will be drawn up to help the Government ban extremist groups and close venues connected to extremist activity.

Lord Ahmad wrote: “In her speech on March 23, the Home Secretary has set out a range of measures to tackle extremism and stand up for British values.

“These will form part of a new comprehensive strategy to defeat all forms of extremism: violent and non-violent, neo-Nazi and Islamist.”

The last paragraph is essentially a word-for-word echo of a line from the Home Secretary’s March 23 speech itself.





In this speech, she had mentioned Islam or Muslims more than 20 times.

However, there had been no mention of republicans, loyalists, the IRA, UVF, INLA or UDA – or anything connected with Northern Ireland.

Lord Ahmad said before the new counter-extremism strategy is published, the Government will “engage widely across the country”.

Mr McNarry said: “It must be the case that in the course of ‘engaging widely across the country’ includes Northern Ireland and the issues I have raised.”

He reiterated his call that “‘all forms of extremism’ must not exclude Irish republican dissidents”.





The Home Office said that its counter-extremism strategy will be published “in due course”.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/limerick-biker-killing-gardai-recover-5928324

Limerick biker killing: Gardai recover shotgun and car as part of murder probe.


Killed: Andrew “Odd” O’Donoghue who was blasted to death yesterday





Gardai have recovered a sawn-off shotgun and a car as part of their investigation into the murder of biker Andrew O’Donoghue.

And it is believed a shooting at an apartment on the Dublin Road outside Limerick city on Sunday is linked to the murder.

Four men, aged in their 40s and 20s, are been detained over the killing. They can be held for seven days before either been released or charged.

Mr O’Donoghue, a long serving member of the Road Tramp MC “brotherhood” was shot in the face around 3pm Saturday, and died two hours later from his injuries in hospital.

It is believed the father of one, known as “Odd” to pals, was an innocent victim.

A source said: “Anyone who was at the clubhouse when the gunman opened fire could have been hurt. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The source added: “Tensions were growing anyway over the past few weeks and different things were happening in the weeks leading up to this.”.

Mr O’Donoghue, also known as “Dennis”, was originally from Lynwood Park in Limerick city, but had been living in Murroe with his partner Catherine Danaher.

The loving biker couple had lived in New York for a period, and returned home a number of years ago following the birth of their only daughter, Ava in the States.

The source added: “The fallout will be interesting because this is one of the first incidents of its kind here involving bikers.

“If one biker shoots another biker, it’s like shooting a brother.”

“Mr O’Donoghue was not known to gardai and his motorcycle club has been operating for a good few years in Murroe and had never previously come to any adverse publicity.”

Paddy Farrelly, a friend of the victim, described the gun attack as “a senseless killing carried out by a coward”.

Mr O’Donoghue’s body will be reposing at Cross’s Funeral Home, in Ballyneety, Co Limerick today from 5pm, before being removed to Road Tramps MC Ireland clubhouse at 7pm.

His funeral will take place in Murroe Church tomorrow at 11.30am, followed by burial afterwards in Abington Cemetery, Murroe.

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THIS is the stash of cocaine and cannabis seized last night in Dublin.

The drug dealing gang, targeted by a specialist garda unit, were caught red-handed last night with a stash of cocaine and cannabis.

The seized drugs are estimated to be worth €150,000.

The seizure and arrests came after officers forced a car to stop on the Belgard Road in Tallaght just after 6pm.

A Gardaí spokesperson said that officers attached to the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau arrested three men.

“A large quantity of cocaine was seized in this vehicle and during a follow up search in the Tallaght area, further quantities of cocaine and cannabis herb were recovered with a total estimated street value of €150,000,” it was added.

“Three males aged 34, 32 and 18 remain in custody at Tallaght Garda station under the provisions of Section 2- Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996,” said the press officer.


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Former INLA leader Declan 'Whacker' Duffy has been arrested by gardai.
Duffy's arrest took place just before midday. He is now being detained in Clontarf Garda Station.

It's understood he was arrested in connection to allegations of extortion.

Duffy's arrest comes just three days after the Herald revealed that Duffy and Dessie 'Border Fox' O'Hare were among a group of men involved in two incidents.

Gardai in Rathcoole are probing the incidents, which occurred just 15 minutes apart at an estate in the Citywest area.

A businesssman and a security guard were the victims of an assault. Both refused to make a complaint to gardai - and the security guard was subjected to a serious assault which left him hospitalised.



Gardai believe the assaults are linked to INLA extortion activities in the capital and are trying to establish which dissident figures were involved in the savage attacks.

It is not clear whether Duffy's arrest was in connection to this incident.

However, sources say that "reliable information" has come in that both Duffy and O'Hare were present along with a feared Tallaght criminal.

In April, the Herald revealed that gardai were looking to speak to Duffy after a Mercedes car owned by a 68-year-old businessman was burnt out by associates of the gangland thug in the Glasnevin area of the capital.

Originally from Armagh, Duffy is now spending his time between two addresses in south inner city and an address north of the border.

He joined the INLA in the 1980s and was still a teenager when he was involved in the murder of Sergeant Michael Newman in Derby, England in 1992.

It was not until July 2010 that he was convicted and received a life sentence for the murder of the unarmed police officer.

Like Duffy, O' Hare was also released under the Good Friday Agreement after being given a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and mutilating Dublin dentist John O'Grady in 1987 and was linked to multiple murders during the Troubles.

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The feared Christy Kinahan crime cartel has teamed up with a notorious gang controlled by a multi-millionaire Traveller crime boss.
The gang, which specialises in high end car theft, is believed to be based out of Meath.

Sources say that the gang have been providing the Kinahan mob with top class motors.

"These include top-of-the range Audis, BMW's and Range Rovers which have been either shipped out of the country in containers or simply driven out by people paid to do this.

"The Traveller gang are actually doing a lot of business with the Kinahan network in terms of drugs trafficking, so it is an arrangement that seems to be working very well," a source told the Herald.

The Traveller gang are reported to be involved in car theft, drug dealing, armed robberies and cash-in-transit robberies.

A notorious Meath-based Traveller criminal who is originally from Finglas has been acting as a "middle man" between the two gangs.

Aside from serving numbers spells in Irish prisons the Traveller thug who is aged in his 40s was recently hit with a huge bill by Criminal Assets Bureau.

As well as being connected with foreign and Traveller gangs, he is also a close associate of jailed Finglas gangland figure Alan 'Fatpuss' Bradley.

Gardai have established that dozens of high-end cars that have been stolen here over the past year have been moved out of the country hidden in ship containers underneath scrap, tyres and discarded computers and even disguised in bigger vehicles on cargo ships from Dublin Port.

Sources told The Herald that a number of 'kingpins' have been identified, including a Nigerian criminal who moves between Dublin and London and a Lithuanian crimelord based in the Tyrrelstown area of west Dublin.

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Gardai closing in on gangsters who brutally attacked two sisters they met on Facebook





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Gardai are closing in on the criminals responsible for the horrific assaults on Amy and Nicole Rice in May.
The sisters came forward back in May to tell the story of how they were brutally attacked by two men they met on Facebook in a 20-hour ordeal in Newbridge.

The two men responsible, who Gardai believe are from Crumlin and Tallaght, fled overseas after the incident but it is believed they are back in the country and on the brink of arrest.

"It would be best if these individuals gave themselves up so that detectives can speak to them and get to hear what they have to say about this matter," a senior source pointed out to independent.ie.

"These are heavy duty fellas with links to drugs gangs in south Dublin," the source said.

"They have significant criminal connections and gardai have been monitoring the safety of the injured parties in this case."

The source added that the property where the assaults happened has been forensically examined by gardai and key evidence has been obtained.

The sisters told the Herald about their horrendous experience on the night of May 14.

The pair agreed to meet with two men who they initially spoke to through Facebook in April.

Amy said the pair seemed nice, and they arranged to travel to Newbridge, Co Kildare for a drink. They met the two men, aged 25 and 30, at a bus stop and were brought to an apartment in Newbridge town centre shortly after 7.30pm.

Soon after, Amy said one of the men, who is originally from Crumlin, started “acting weird”.

“His demeanour changed and he started talking about how he had been in jail before,” she said.

“They started to get aggressive, and my sister got up to leave at about 8pm. One of them pulled her hair, pushed her to the ground and started kicking her in the head.”

The brave young woman attempted to intervene to save her younger sister but the other man started to pummel her in a frenzied attack.

“They tied us up with rags and put them on our mouths and just kept laughing and laughing as they beat us up,” Amy said.

The sisters say the men worked themselves into a frenzy and asked them to ring “someone with money to pay a ransom” which would set them free.

But when the sisters said they didn’t have any money in their family, they were beaten further.

“They thought it was hilarious, they started ringing this woman and had her on loudspeaker and she kept saying ‘let me hear them scream’.

“Nicole made a run to the corridor outside and fell on the stairs trying to get away and passed out at the bottom.

“They thought she was dead and started ringing people on the phone and saying they needed to dig holes in the Wicklow mountains as they didn’t know what to do with these girls.”

Amy says the last thing she remembered was her sister’s body lying at the bottom of the stairs before she blacked out during another beating.

“I was so scared,” said brave Amy. “I thought we were going to die, I was full sure they were going to kill us.”

Nicole woke up hours later in bed beside her sister. She said as she was not tied up she tried to untie her sister but the men, who were sleeping beside them, woke and the assaults started again.

“They started lining us up against the wall and taking pictures and sending to friends what they had done to us. They were really proud of it.

“They eventually let us go at about 3pm in the afternoon and said if we went to the guards they would kill us and our family.

“They had rung people and found out information about us – they knew our dad was in hospital and everything.”

Covered in blood, the sisters ran out of the apartment and a man, driving by with two children, stopped and took them straight to hospital.

The sisters said they were still receiving threats from the men in hospital. The pair took a number of tests and scans and they believe they may have been drugged on the night of their ordeal.

Amy suffered a suspected fractured jaw. Nicole received a broken nose.

Both siblings suffered severe head and facial injuries.

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Two hitmen fired handguns at Christy Keane as he was sitting in his car


CRIME boss Christy Keane’s deadly rivals struck at their arch enemy at his weakest point in years.
The infamous Limerick gangster is lucky to have survived the gun attack this week as his bitter enemies in the McCarthy faction took their chance to settle old scores.

Four of his key men, including two convicted killers, are on bail and currently banned from entering the city.

Also his loose-cannon son Liam is still behind bars and not due for release until next year.

The Keane faction is currently outgunned by the McCarthy mob whose leaders are the prime suspects behind the attack.

“They’ve taken their eye off the ball, they’re not as interested in the feud,” said a Sunday World source this week.
The Keanes were previously backed by the Collopys but the two families are no longer aligned with each other. The crime gang’s power base has been seriously weakened, according to sources.

“The Island Field isn’t what is used to be for them. They have people who do things for them but they’re only kids,” said a source.

“The Keanes have no one behind them, they don’t have anyone who’d be able to go into the heart of Moyross,” our source added.



Christy Keane

We can reveal that the man arrested in connection with the shooting used to work as a baker for the father of Owen Tracey, who is closely aligned with the Keanes.

Noel Price is also well-known to gardaí but is low down on the underworld’s pecking order.

The 37-year-old was recently released from jail after serving time for hijacking a car which he drove away with a toddler still in the vehicle.
He is not thought to have been the gunman but he has feud-related convictions and served a ten-year sentence for a petrol bomb attack on a house in Clonlara in County Clare.

The target of the arson attack was the home of Philip Tracey whose son Owen survived the 2003 ambush in which Kieran Keane was killed to avenge Eddie Ryan’s murder.

A woman was also arrested this week by investigating gardaí and there is nothing to suggest at this stage that anyone quizzed had any involvement in the bid to kill Keane.

The early-morning ambush has shattered the fragile peace in the city that last saw a gangland murder in 2012.

But there is little doubt among the underworld and gardaí alike that the Keane faction won’t let the gun attack go unpunished. Hours after the gunmen’s assault, one Sunday World source said bluntly: “The feud is back on.”

Gardaí are working to track down the two gunmen who attacked Keane last Monday in the grounds of the University of Limerick.

Keane has a lot of enemies and there are several gangsters who would be happy to see him dead.

Sunday World sources claim that the McCarthy clan are the likely culprits behind the gun attack.
The man regarded as the leader of the clan, ‘Red’ Larry McCarthy, served a long stretch in prison in the UK for possession of guns.

He was caught red-handed in a flat which was described in court as a gun “supermarket.”

Since his return to Limerick in 2011 the soccer-mad gangster has kept a low profile and claims to be no longer involved in crime.

Christy Keane had been waiting to start a gym session when the gunmen approached his Nissan Navara shooting their handguns last Monday morning.

Sources say he had been a regular at the gym parking in the same place every morning before his work-out.

“There was no sense of taking any personal security precautions – he was a sitting duck,” said a source.
However, Keane’s fitness levels helped save his life.

The veteran gangster managed to run from his attackers and reached a running track 100 metres away where an off-duty nurse exercising gave him vital first aid.

He was operated on to repair bullet damage to an artery in his chest while another round clipped a lung.

Two other rounds fired by the would-be assassins hit him in the arms, according to Sunday World sources.

Although regarded as being clear of immediate danger he was later treated in the high dependency unit of the University Hospital Limerick.
He has since been moved to hospital in Cork.

Ironically the lethal gang warfare started with another failed attack on Keane in 2000 when his former enforcer Eddie Ryan tried to shoot him.

His gun jammed but Ryan’s fate was sealed and two years later he was gunned down in a hail of automatic gunfire in the Moose Bar.

Ryan was the first to die in the feud that has since claimed at least 18 lives and left dozens languishing in prison.

The Dundon brothers, three of whom are serving life in jail, were once the most violent gang in Limerick.
While Ger Dundon is reported to be re-establishing the family business between the UK and Limerick they are not suspected of being behind the attack.

In the past gangland assassinations in Limerick have been marked by wild parties, bonfires and gloating graffiti.

Despite the relative calm of recent years trouble has been brewing between the criminal factions in and tension increased since the start of this year.

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Inmates are making a fortune flogging phone in Irish jails where old Nokia mobiles and fetch as much as €450 on the inside.
It has emerged that cons can charge as much as €1,100 for an iPhone in Dublin’s high-security Mountjoy Prison.

So far this year 322 phones have been seized in Irish jails compared to 728 last year and 805 in 2013.

The Sun reports that just yesterday the mother of a Dublin lag was nabbed in Mountjoy prison smuggling her son in a mobile phone.

Cell phones have been discovered in secret compartments inside homemade shelves, shows and on one occasion, in a bottle of bleach.


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VIDEO: Laughing thugs raze rival's house



http://www.sundayworld.com/news/crimedesk/video-laughing-thugs-raze-rivals-house


Laughing thugs demolish a rival's house as part of bitter feud between Irish travellers in the UK.