Gardaí hunt for crime boss after seven arrests

Gardaí were last night hunting down the head of an organised crime network after arresting his girlfriend and six gang members in a massive “shakedown”.

A Garda team was trying to locate the man yesterday following a swoop on 30 homes and businesses across west Dublin.

The gang is suspected of targeting the parental home of a drug officer in a pipebomb attack last November in retaliation for a succession of drug busts last year.

As part of yesterday’s operation, code-named Vulcan, the Criminal Assets Bureau raided the offices of a property company, on suspicion that the gang used the business to invest in properties here and abroad.

A Garda spokesman said the planned searches were part “of an operation targeting organised crime activity, including drug trafficking, firearms offences and money laundering”.

The gang leader is from a well-known family in the Cabra area of Dublin’s north inner city.

One source in Cabra described the gang leader as “wild” when he was young, and as having been active in the drug trade for a long time, albeit at a relatively low level in the past.

He said the man left the area about five years ago and moved to Crumlin in south Dublin, where he scaled up his business. Garda sources said he was a “major player with his own crew” and not linked to established gangs in Crumlin-Drimnagh.

The Garda drugs unit raided five drug hauls belonging to this gang last year, which had a combined value of about €5m.

Gardaí suspect the gang retaliated after a pipebomb exploded at the front door of the Dublin home while an officer’s parents were inside. Nobody was injured.

Seven people were arrested in the morning raids.

The gang leader’s girlfriend, aged 30, was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Crumlin Garda Station. Two men, aged 21 and 30, and a boy aged 17, were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act 1939 at Clondalkin station. A 21 year-old man was detained at Ballyfermot under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

Two males, aged 33 and 22, were detained at Bridewell station on foot of outstanding warrants.

A small amount of drugs, worth about €20,000, was also seized.

Murder inquiry

Gardaí will know today if they will be able to bring charges against a young man and a juvenile in relation to the murder of Melanie McCarthy in Tallaght, Dublin, on Feb 7.

The 23-year-old man, and 17-year-old boy, were still in custody last night after gardaí were granted a further extension by the courts.

They were arrested last Thursday and their detention expires this evening.

They are being held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2009, which allows up to seven days’ detention.

Officers are in contact with the DPP, who will decide whether or not any charges are brought.