Gardaí preparing for escalation of gangland feud

GARDAÍ are preparing for an escalation in violence linked to gangland feuds in the Crumlin-Drimnagh area of south Dublin.

The main feud has already directly claimed around 13 lives in the last nine years and now a so-called “second generation” of gang members is ratcheting up the violence.

The jailing last month of Brian Rattigan, the leader of one of the gangs, has resulted in increased tension, both on the streets and in the prisons, where his gang and the rival gang have clashed violently.