Guns used in car murder found in nearby garden
Two 9mm handguns were discovered in a garden near Kilmartin Drive, where Stephen O’Halloran, 20, was shot as he sat in a car in the driveway of his home.
Two other men in the car at the time were injured.
In separate planned searches yesterday, gardaí in Finglas seized two other handguns and heroin with an estimated street value of €87,000 .
Meanwhile, a violent meltdown among a leading Dublin crime gang has led to armed gardaí increasing patrols in the capital following the fourth gangland gun murder in just two weeks.
Senior gardaí insisted yesterday detectives were ready to “face down” the latest surge in shootings and criminal activity.
Extra armed gardaí have been drafted into Finglas in the past fortnight following an escalation in gang feuds, it was confirmed. Extra numbers of uniformed members are also on patrol.
The Garda pledge came in the wake of the shooting dead of Graham McNally, a 34-year-old convicted criminal from Cappagh Avenue, Finglas, Co Dublin.
McNally is thought to have been lured to his death in a dark cul-de-sac by an associate on Tuesday evening and shot with a handgun.
There were suspicions McNally was “playing both sides” in gangs, confirmed a local informed source.
The body of the gangland figure was found with several gun wounds to the head in a ditch at Coldwinters, the North Road, Finglas.
Local superintendent John Harnett urged witnesses to come forward. But the garda also said the force was ready to meet threats from armed gang activity head on.
“There have been a number of incidents in the Finglas area in the last couple of months. We’ve extra check points and patrols out. There’s no doubt that there are people who resort to violence to settle disputes. We have faced these people down before. I’m confident that we’ll face them down again.”
McNally’s death is being blamed on a new crime boss, who took control after the murder of Martin ‘Marlo’ Hyland. The ruthless figure has been linked with several murders, including the January 7 shooting dead of heroin dealer Michael ‘Roly’ Cronin and the previous killing of armed robber John Daly.
Sources say the Finglas gang, already feuding with other criminals, is imploding. McNally was considered to be a leading figure in the gang.
“Suspicion is rife [in the gang]. One is starting to look at the other,” added a local informed source.
McNally, who had hepatitis C, received a 12-month sentence in 2001 for biting three gardaí and trying to strangle one at Barry Road, Finglas, in July 1999. He is suspected of involvement in a number of shootings.
It is thought he was shot at 5.10pm. Detectives want to speak to witnesses or locals who were in the area between 4.00pm and 5.30pm.
“We understand that there were a number of people in the vicinity at the time,” said Superintendent Harnett.
The man’s body was found in a cul-de-sac beside a junction with the M50 and N2.
Top gardaí have been drafted in to help with investigations in Finglas, including gardaí with the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
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