Fears crime boss killers may already have left country

Detectives investigating the murder of a Lithuanian crime boss in front of his wife fear the killers may have left the country.

Gardaí are examining CCTV footage from ports and airports to try and pinpoint any likely suspects.

Convicted criminal Gintaras Zelvis was shot several times at close range as he arrived with his wife at his clothes recycling centre in Greenogue Industrial Estate, Rathcoole, west Dublin, at about 9.30am yesterday.

Edita Zelviene rang 999 and an ambulance brought him to Tallaght Hospital where surgeons fought, in vain, to save his life.

It is the seventh gun murder this year — the sixth connected to gangland.

Garda sources described the 43-year-old as “a nasty piece of work”, who had only been released from jail last year after serving five years for an extortion racket against fellow nationals.

A strong line of inquiry centres on disputes among Lithuanian gangs involved in the lucrative clothes collection and recycling trade.

But Garda sources said it was very early in their investigation and they were keeping an open mind.

Zelvis, who lived with his wife in Celbridge, was sentenced to seven years in Feb 2007 for running an extortion racket in Monaghan. He demanded €5,000 from a man.

Yesterday, gardaí said an Audi A3 (5 door hatchback) with the partial registration 05 TN — used by the killers was found abandoned in Aylmer housing estate in nearby Newcastle.

Gardaí urged anyone who saw the car or who was in the estate at the time to contact Clondalkin station 01 6667600 or the Confidential line 1800 666 111.