Crime boss escapes prosecution after knife attack victim refuses to talk

A TOP crime boss will escape prosecution after the victim of a knife attack refused to say anything about his assailants.

The 28-year-old gang leader was arrested with two other gang members and a female friend shortly after the vicious stabbing.

The victim, thought to a minor member of the gang, was slashed up to five times with what gardaí believe was a Stanley-type knife.

It is thought the victim drove to the Maryland area of Dublin’s south-inner-city to meet the gang boss by arrangement on Thursday.

He was attacked by two senior members of the gang, who slashed him, leaving wounds to his face, upper body and hands.

Gardaí described the injuries as “superficial” and said it was probably “retribution” for a quantity of drugs the victim had been asked to keep safe, but which was seized by gardaí.

One of the attackers, aged 25, from Maryland, is thought to be a key player in the gang. The second man, aged 22, is the main suspect in the attempted murder of criminal figure Martin Foley in Kimmage, south Dublin, last January.

The two men, and the crime boss, who did not take part in the attack, fled the scene.

Gardaí from Kevin Street were alerted and arrested the two attackers, the crime boss and a female friend in two cars.

The victim was taken to St James’s Hospital. He gave gardaí a brief statement but could not offer any description of his attackers. The gardaí could not progress the case and had to release all four arrested.

The crime boss, who is also from Maryland, is the leader of one of two gangs in the Drimnagh-Crumlin and south-inner-city areas who are locked in a feud which is thought to have directly led to the deaths of 11 people.

Meanwhile, gardaí yesterday warned businesses and people that cash robbed in a security van heist was in circulation in Dublin city.

Gardaí have asked people to be on the look out for the cash, which has been discoloured by a red dye.

The money was taken in an armed robbery of a cash-in-transit van at Cappagh Post Office in Finglas, north Dubli on Wednesday last. A gunman took a money box and fled on a motorbike, driven by an accomplice.

The cash would have been discoloured with dye on opening of the cash box.

People can contact their local Garda station, the Finglas Garda Station no 01 6667500 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.