‘Paranoid’ crime boss top suspect in first gangland shootings of year
Michael “Roly” Cronin, 35, a notorious heroin dealer, died when he was shot in the head at close range in Dublin’s north inner city on Wednesday night.
An associate, named locally as James Maloney, in his mid-20s, was also shot in the head and is in critical condition in hospital.
Gardaí are investigating if a second shooting in north Dublin later on Wednesday night, in which a man was shot in the head and lung, is connected.
Although there were contradictory reports yesterday, a number of sources suggested the incidents did not seem to be linked.
Cronin and Maloney were sitting in the front seats of a stationary car on Summerhill Road when they were shot by another man sitting in the back of the car.
Gardaí have made speedy progress in the investigation and are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, including forensic examinations on the suspected murder weapon, an item of clothing believed to belong to the suspect and the car, which was not burnt out.
It is understood that the gun was stashed under another car by the fleeing gunman and that it was spotted by gardaí searching the area.
Gardaí have issued a basic description of the suspected gunman given by witnesses. In addition, gardaí are examining local CCTV footage, in particular a camera which appears to cover the spot where the shooting took place.
The shooting of Cronin occurred just hours after local TD Tony Gregory, who joined community anti-drug marches on Cronin’s flat in 1996, was laid to rest.
Cronin was sentenced to 13 years in 1998 for heroin dealing and left custody in 2004. Community sources in the north inner city said he continued dealing on his release. He moved into an apartment behind Charles-town Shopping Centre in Finglas, north Dublin, two years ago. He is believed to have crossed paths with a major drug trafficker in the area. This man, in his early 30s, took over much of the trafficking network operated by murdered gang leader Martin “Marlo” Hyland.
This crime boss had sent an assassin to kill Cronin last November at Hampton Green in Glasnevin, but he escaped unhurt.
The previous October, the Garda Organised Crime Unit, which had Cronin under surveillance, intercepted a person on his way to kill Cronin.
“He knew his life was under threat,” said a Garda source. “He was well aware people were trying to kill him.”
Gardaí believe the Finglas crime boss was “paranoid” about people encroaching on his territory.
Detectives will also investigate links Cronin had with one side of a violent feud in the north inner city and whether the boss of the rival gang may have ordered his assassination.
Earlier, at a press conference, Garda spokesman Superintendent John Gilligan said a distinctive English-registered Volvo car pulled up at the junction of Summerhill Road and Langrishe Place Gardens at about 8.40pm on Wednesday. He said two men, in the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat, were shot and that the car rolled back onto Summerhill. He said witnesses said a man exited the back of the car, jumped over a barrier in the middle of Summerhill and fled down Gloucester Place into an area known as Gloucester Diamond. He appealed to anyone who saw the car, a Volvo S40 sports model with registration FD54CEY to contact gardaí.
He said a technical examination was being conducted yesterday on the car for ballistic or forensic evidence.
Supt Gilligan said they had a basic description of a suspect leaving the crime scene. Witnesses described him as 5’8” or 5’9”, or possibly 5’10”, of normal build, possibly wearing a tracksuit with a silver thread.
Supt Gilligan said a black jacket was found in Gloucester Place, which was possibly discarded by the suspect. He said they had discovered a handgun in the same area, which was sealed off for forensic examination.
He said they had no information yet from witnesses that the suspect was wearing a balaclava or gloves.
Supt Gilligan said they did not know where the suspect went from Gloucester Diamond. He said he could have gone into buildings on Sean McDermott Street, met someone in a waiting car or hailed a taxi.
He said they would investigate any possible links with a second shooting, which occurred in Kinsealy, north Dublin, shortly after 10pm on Wednesday.
“There was another shooting, which is the subject of an investigation out of Coolock Garda Station. Because of the proximity in time to the incident in the centre city, we will examine any relationship.”
Senior detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation attended the scene yesterday morning and are assisting local gardaí in the murder hunt.
Anyone with information on the Summerhill shooting is asked to ring Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station on 01-6668432 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
