Paramilitary ‘protection racket’ could be behind attacks

GARDAÍ are investigating whether criminal or paramilitary gangs are behind two arson attacks on head shops in Dublin’s north inner city in the last week.

Detectives are examining the possibility the head shops are being targeted as part of a ‘protection racket’.

In the latest suspected arson attack at around 9.30pm on Tuesday night, two men wearing balaclavas walked into the Happy Hippy head store on North Frederick Street, carrying a cannister. Two shocked members of staff looked on as they emptied petrol from the cannister over the front of the shop and set it alight. They then fled the scene.

Gardaí are trying to track their movements afterwards through local inquiries and CCTV footage.

The frightening attack came just five days after another head shop on nearby Capel Street was burnt to the ground.

Garda sources have confirmed both attacks are being treated as arson.

Some sources are suggesting this could be part of a campaign and predict there may be further attacks.

Gardaí are examining a number of lines of inquiry. One of these is a suspicion that criminal gangs, or paramilitary groups, such as the Continuity IRA, are demanding payment from head shops for “allowing” them to operate.

The attacks would suggest that head shops that don’t pay up are targeted.

Detectives have pointed to the huge money being earned by head shops and the aggressive way owners have expanded their businesses, both in the number of retail outlets and late opening hours.

“You look at the head shop on Capel Street; there was €500,000 in cash in a safe,” said one Garda source. “In situations like that you could have someone looking for a cut. If that’s not coming, the shop pays the price.”

Gardaí are also examining the possibility that local drug dealers are targeting the head shops over suggestions that their business has been badly hit by the head shops, particularly their decision to open overnight and in some cases 24 hours a day.

A third avenue being explored is that anti-drug vigilantes have re-emerged and are targeting the shops.

The owner of the Nirvana store on Capel Street, Jim Bellamy, said he believed the attack was the result of a someone taking the “law into their own hands” following a “disgusting media campaign”.

Gardaí suspect some sort of accelerant was used in the attack on Nirvana. The damage to the Happy Hippy store was less extensive.

Gardaí are examining local CCTV footage in both cases to determine if anything “useful” is captured on them.

Gardaí said they have given crime prevention advice to head shops across the city.

Senior Garda sources said they have not found organised crime involvement in the operation of head shops to date, but have indicated that a small number may be involved in both the legal and illegal trades.

Local Labour TD Joe Costello said: “It certainly seems too much of a coincidence there has been two such fires within days and there is a real concern these shops are being targeted.

“There is a worry not enough action is being taken either to stop the selling of these products or to protect people living near head shops who could be hurt in a fire.”