Gangland feud link to foiled pipe-bomb attacks

Gangland feud link to foiled pipe-bomb attacks

By Paul Melia

Tuesday March 18 2008

Two foiled pipe-bomb attacks in a 24-hour period are being linked to a long-running gangland feud that has already claimed 11 lives.

But gardai are also investigating the possibility that the devices could have been planted by a self-publicist who later called 999 to tip off the authorities.

The devices were found underneath a car and outside a house in south Dublin, and were deactivated by the Army's bomb disposal team.

A spokesman for the Defence Forces said there were similarities between both devices, suggesting the same person made both. They were both said to be crude, but viable.

Dozens of houses were evacuated as a precaution after the discovery of the two bombs in Crumlin between 2am on Sunday and 12.10am yesterday morning.

Both devices were deactivated without the need for controlled explosions, and are being examined for fingerprints or other clues that might lead to arrests.

The first was discovered underneath a car parked outside a house on Captain's Avenue in Crumlin at 1.50 on Sunday morning.

The second was discovered at the front door of a house in Crumlin Park at 12.10am yesterday, again after an anonymous 999 call.

The Defence Forces said there were "similarities" in the construction of both devices, and that both were viable and could have exploded causing death or serious injury.

"This is the second IED (improvised explosive device) in 24 hours dealt with by our bomb disposal teams in Dublin," a Defence Forces spokesman said yesterday.

"These home-made bombs are crude, unstable and potentially very dangerous. No controlled explosion was carried out. The IED was removed and further examination of it is being carried out this morning in conjunction with investigating gardai."

"The constituent parts will be handed over to gardai following this technical examination."

A garda spokesman confirmed that anonymous callers had informed gardai about both devices. And while no arrests had been made, investigations were continuing. Both discoveries are being treated as separate incidents.

Exploded

Had they exploded, the metal casings in the bombs could have fragmented and caused serious injury to anyone nearby. It is believed that extra garda patrols will now be mounted in Crumlin and Drimnagh amid fears that the long-running gangland feud, which has claimed many lives, could spiral out of control.

The feud, between rival drug-dealing gangs, has been running since 2001 and has so far claimed the lives of 11 people.

Last week one gangland figure fled the country amid an apparent plot to assassinate him.

Two suspected hitmen were also stopped on O'Connell Bridge by undercover gardai acting on a tip-off.

- Paul Melia