Rattigan conviction ‘hugely significant’

SENIOR gardaí yesterday said the conviction of gangland boss Brian Rattigan for murder was “hugely significant” in the message it sends out to organised crime.

But Garda sources said Rattigan continues to direct operations from his cell in Portlaoise Prison, the country’s sole high-security jail, where he was been locked up since 2003.

His gang hierarchy has been badly hit, however, and his outfit is now “well depleted”, not only because of his continuing detention, but also after the murder of three of his top henchmen, two of them this year. Many other gang members have fled to Spain, leaving his street operations to a “new breed” of young criminals.