Gardaí hopeful of crime boss prosecution

GARDAÍ are hopeful of bringing a prosecution against one of Dublin’s major crime bosses.

In a low-key operation led by the Organised Crime Unit (OCU), armed officers arrested the gang boss and an associate in the Malahide area of north Dublin.

Gardaí stopped the two men last Friday and, when they searched a nearby car, they found a loaded semi-automatic Glock handgun.

Gardaí have sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions and are hopeful charges may be directed. If so, it would be a major coup for the OCU.

The likelihood of charges will depend on whether the DPP is satisfied there is enough evidence directly linking him to the gun.

The crime boss is suspected of being behind a number of serious tiger kidnappings and armed robberies. He is also heavily involved

“He is never far removed from many of the serious crimes in north Dublin,” said one Garda source. “He has his tentacles everywhere.”

The source said the man has a reputation among other criminals based largely on fear.

They were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, which allows for a maximum period of three days’ detention. They were released over the weekend pending the preparation of the file for the DPP.