Fears of renewed gangland terror

Irish Independent



By GRAINNE CUNNINGHAM

Thursday April 01 1999
IT IS almost as though organised crime is trying to make a comeback on Dublin's streets after the relative calm that followed the death of Veronica Guerin. IT IS almost as though organised crime is trying to make a comeback on Dublin's streets after the relative calm that followed the death of Veronica Guerin.

In the three months of 1999 so far, there have been three murders linked to Dublin gangs. All three are also believed to have been drugs-related.

Cannabis dealer Paschal Boland (43), was gunned down in the driveway of his home in a gangland style shooting in Blanchardstown. A few weeks earlier, taxi driver John Dillon (53) was shotgunned to death in his home at Glenties Park in Finglas South.

And yesterday's slaying of Tom Reilly in a Dublin car park bore the hallmarks of a gangland shooting.

Mr Reilly's killers knew where he worked, what shift he was on and that he would arrive at the Premier Dairies car park close to 9am.

Gangland murders were virtually stamped out after Veronica Guerin's murder. But in the two or three previous years there had been a spate of ``contract killings'', many with common characteristics.

In August 1994, Martin `The General' Cahill was shot in his car during a routine trip to a video shop by two men on a motorbike.

In October of that year, Patrick Shanahan was shot with a handgun as he left the fitness club he attended twice a week.

David Weafer died after receiving a single shot to the head at his home in Finglas in June, 1995.

The same month, Francis Preston was shot leaving his home in Baldoyle, Co Dublin by a cyclist. Preston left his house at the same time every day.

Gerard Connolly died from chest wounds delivered through the glass door of his home by a gunman in August, 1995.

In November of that year, Eric Shortall was shot three times while walking with his girlfriend near his home.

Eddie McCabe and Catherine Brennan were both killed by shots fired on their car as they drove from Brennan's home to a nearby petrol station.

Also in November, 1995 Christy Delaney was killed by a gunman at his Finglas home.

In March, 1996 Gerry Lee was shot at close range by a man who knew his name at a house in Coolock.

In the following month, John Reddan was gunned down in the Blue Lion pub in Parnell Street, Dublin and John Kelly was shot by two gunmen at his house in Clondalkin, Co Dublin.

- GRAINNE CUNNINGHAM