Hitmen brothers are leading suspects in gangland murder

Irish Herald

By Jane Last

Wednesday August 26 2009

Two brothers, hired by jailed criminals, are believed to be behind the latest gangland hit in Dublin.

The brothers are the chief suspects in the shooting dead of an associate of imprisoned gang boss Karl Breen.

Father-of-one Pierce Reid was gunned down outside his parents’ home in Clondalkin earlier this month.

The 25-year-old, a close associate of D22 gang boss Breen (28), was shot once and fled for his life.

However, the gunmen caught up with him and shot him twice more in the head. The brothers sped away from the scene in a silver BMW.

Rival

They were acting for a rival of Breen and Reid’s murder is further evidence that his D22 gang is falling apart.

Sources told the Herald that Breen, dubbed the Moet Killer, is currently under protection for his own safety in the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise where he is serving a sentence for manslaughter.

Reid’s murder is understood to have been linked to the victim’s use of young locals to rob drugs belonging to rivals of Breen.

It is understood that Breen had distanced himself from these activities shortly before Reid's death.

From prison, jailed gang leaders ordered the "hit" in a bid to keep a hold on to their drugs operation in West Dublin.

The murder of Reid has at the same time undermined the effectiveness Breen's control in West Dublin. Breen (28) relied on Reid to keep his drugs business running while he serves a nine year sentence.

He is known as the 'champagne killer' after stabbing to death one of his friends in a hotel-room party in 2006.

Martin McLaughlin died in hospital after the attack at Jurys Croke Park Hotel on January 1, 2006, following a night spent drinking Moet champagne.

They were in a group of five couples celebrating New Year's Eve.

Since he was jailed Breen has seen two other associates murdered -- Michael Hendrick, shot dead in February in Clondalkin and Christy "Git" McDonagh, who was gunned down last September in Ronanstown.

The killing of Reid has effectively closed down his drug business.

"He is in isolation in prison because of fears for his own safety and on the outside he is practically powerless to prevent his empire crumbling" said a source.

The brothers, who grew up in the same neighbourhood as one of those who hired them, are understood to have arranged to have the getaway BMW burned after it was abandoned by them.

But the fire which was set inside went out quickly and the vehicle was quickly recovered for forensic examination.

The brothers have earned their reputation as cold blooded killers and are understood to have been hired previously by one of the gangsters for another hit.

The victim was 20-year-old Thomas Joyce from Grove Lane, Coolock, who was shot dead on June 17 because he refused to pay off a huge drug debt.

He was clinically murdered with five shots to the head and back, allegedly for a fee of €15,000.

Joyce, the youngest of a family of nine, was the youngest criminal investigated by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

He arrogantly displayed his drug-financed wealth and paid €70,000 in cash as a part-payment for a Range Rover sports model while also owning a range of other cars including an exclusive BMW.

- Jane Last

Dissident republicans chase gang members out of Cavan

Sunday Tribune


Suzanne Breen, Northern Editor
TCRG graffiti in Cavan
Dissident republicans say that six members of a leading Cavan gang involved in drug-dealing, vicious assaults and thefts have fled the country "in fear of their lives".
A prominent member of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement claimed republicans had broken up the gang "who were making life a nightmare" for local people.
He claimed that, while no violence was used, around 25 republicans wearing black shirts emblazoned with 'Fermanagh/Cavan 32 County Sovereignty Movement' had patrolled the streets.
They distributed leaflets warning that they "would not stand idly by while this community is attacked by anti-social elements led by sinister, criminal figures".
The spokesman said the gang had been attempting to arm itself by stealing shot-guns.
"It was a dangerous situation rapidly spiralling out of control," he said.
The gang known as TCRG – The Cavan Rebellion Group – was led by three Limerick criminals put out of that city eight months ago by the Dundon-McCarthy gang. These Limerick men, along with a Dublin criminal and two Cavan men, have now left the country, the spokesman said.
"There was no military action involved and no threats made. It was a community initiative. When they saw us on the streets, they knew they were no longer welcome. They have left Ireland. They got on planes in fear of their lives."
The spokesman said "anti-social activity" still existed in Cavan and the sovereignty movement intended to "step up patrols" in the town. "We'll be making our presence felt. We'll be on the streets to ensure that hoods aren't let run riot. We're also planning patrols in other Irish towns, on both sides of the border. If there is trouble, we'll sort it out."
TCRG boasted of its violence on social networking site Bebo, which included the names and photographs of alleged gang members. The gang, of around 30 members in their teens and early 20s, was led by men in their 30s.
The spokesman claimed local people approached Sinn Féin to stop the gang's activities. "Sinn Féin told them to go to the guards and the guards did virtually nothing. We became involved because people, at their wits' end, came to us for help."
August 23, 2009

Gardai raid solicitors and accountants as they 'follow the money' in gangs fight

Irish Herald

By Andrew Phelan

Thursday August 20 2009

MORE than 150 armed detectives swooped on solicitors, accountants and a building society in their crackdown on gangland crime.

Sources said gardai were trying to "follow the money" and find evidence against a notorious Finglas gangster.

In a day of synchronised action, gardai seized evidence from innocent professionals who may have come in contact with the gang. Homes across the country were also raided.

The crime boss they are targeting rose to prominence after the killing of former kingpin Martin "Marlo" Hyland in 2006.

He is a priority target for gardai and has been linked to several unsolved murders. The raids, that started at 6am yesterday, represent the first garda offensive in a new war on crime since the introduction of tough laws aimed at battling gangs. Several more operations are expected soon.

Gardai hope they will have gathered enough evidence to prosecute the gang leader, who has never been charged in connection with any of the murders he was linked to.

TRAIL

In 23 searches in Dublin, Louth and Meath, documents, mobile phones and bank account details were seized.

No arrests were made.

There has been no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the financial institution, with officers saying the purpose was to "follow the money trail".

It is believed they will try to use this trail against gang members by matching their assets to their criminal activities. Outside Dublin, the searches carried out included a raid on a house in Bettystown, Co Meath.

Searches were also carried out in Dundalk, Co Louth.

The operation was co-ordinated by the Assistant Commissioner Derek Byrne and involved officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Organised Crime Unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Emergency Response Unit.

It was supported by gardai from local divisions. The new laws that paved the way for the blitz are in the recently introduced Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, which allows for a maximum life sentence for those convicted of directing a criminal gang.

CRIMINAL

For the first time, the act also made participation in a criminal gang, or facilitating one, an offence.

Senior gardai had begun identifying targets for the clampdown before the legislation was enacted, according to sources.

A number of gangland figures are reported to have fled the country in recent weeks through fear of prosecution.

hnews@herald.ie

Rival gangsters go to ground after murder of D22 enforcer Reid

Irish Herald

By Cormac Looney

Saturday August 15 2009

TWO rival gangsters at the centre of the D22 feud have left west Dublin amid fears of reprisals a week after the murder of underworld hardman Pierce Reid.

The pair -- who live just doors away from each other on a Clondalkin street -- have not been sighted at their homes since the killing last week.

One of the men was a close pal of Reid, who is suspected of carrying out gun attacks on houses in Dublin 22 as part of the ongoing feud. This man and a close relative are regarded as key players in the Infamous D22 gang.

His rival, who lives just doors away, is also believed to have left Clondalkin for a period in the wake of the murder.

This man is active in the Bawnogue gang, which has emerged as a rival to the Infamous D22 in recent months, leading to the feud which in turn led to Reid's murder.

Although tensions remain high in Clondalkin in the wake of the killing, garda sources said that the absence of both men may cause the gangs to "hold fire", in the short term.

There have been no serious incidents of feud-related violence in the area, since Pierce Reid's funeral, and a major garda presence, including undercover armed officers, remains in the area. The garda operation will continue for the foreseeable future, sources said.

Motive

A week after the Reid killing, gardai are examining a number of theories to establish the motive behind the murder, and no clear line of investigation has emerged.

Most officers believe that the killing arose from a split in the 'Infamous D22' gang, which is headed by Karl Breen and whose chief enforcer was Pierce Reid.

Allegations of stolen drugs and other matters have arisen in the past 12 months, sources said, and this led to a split in the outfit.

The split has occurred between Breen's side and the so-called Bawnogue Gang, a group of former associates based in that area.

This led to Reid being murdered at Lealand Close in Clondalkin eight days ago. The 25-year-old was shot in the head a number of times.

Soon afterwards, a stolen grey-coloured BMW car, registration 08 D 26305, believed to be the getaway vehicle, was found burnt out at Lindisfarne Park. Gardai are appealing for information.

In the wake of the murder, the Bawnogue Gang scrawled graffiti on a local church describing their rivals as 'Infamous Rats'. This attack was carried out because the gangsters wrongly believed Reid's funeral was to take place at that church.

clooney@herald.ie

- Cormac Looney