Leading criminal set for charge on gangland murder

A LEADING Dublin criminal is expected to be charged today with the murder of a drug dealer whose death is at the centre of a bloody gangland feud.

The murder of Declan Gavin four years ago has led to at least two other murders, the latest on Wednesday when John Roche was gunned down in Dublin’s south inner city.

Roche, 25, from Crumlin, south west Dublin, was a senior member of the gang suspected of killing Gavin in August 2001.

Roche is the second member of the rival gang to be murdered in revenge for the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old Gavin. He was murdered outside Crumlin Shopping Centre in a suspected row over a drug seizure.

Factions associated with Gavin broke away from the gang and vowed revenge for his death.

In the following two years, the gangs fought a running battle in the Crumlin, Drimnagh and Rialto areas of Dublin.

In July 2002, the Gavin gang shot dead 19-year-old Joseph Rattigan, a senior member of the rival outfit.

Gardaí in Crumlin brought charges against a man for Gavin’s murder in 2003, but the case did not go to trial because of problems in relation to the book of evidence.

It is understood a new file was recently submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The prosecution will be another “hammer blow” to the rival gang, according to garda sources.

Prior to Roche’s murder, another senior gang member narrowly escaped being killed outside his home in Drimnagh last week.

The upsurge in attacks is thought to be linked with the recent release from prison of a leader of the Gavin gang, where he served time for firearms offences.

Gardaí believe the rival gang will retaliate and expect further murders. They have stepped up armed patrols and checkpoints in the area.

Meanwhile, detectives investigating Roche’s murder yesterday released two women, thought to be girlfriends of the men suspected of killing Roche.

Gardaí believe the killers have gone underground, but are hopeful of bringing successful prosecutions.

Gardaí suspect Roche was involved in the murder of small-time drug dealer Paul Warren in February 2004.