Gang believed Michael Barr provided safe house

Gardaí suspect dissident republican Michael Barr was shot dead because it was believed by the Kinahan cartel he provided a “safe house” to one of the gunmen in the Regency Hotel attack.

The 35-year-old may have also played a role in sourcing weapons for the Hutch gang through the gunman, nicknamed “Flat Cap”, after he was photographed wearing the hat following the hotel assault on February 5.

Senior gardaí now fear the murder of a Real IRA member in Dublin’s north inner city could drag the dissident group into the spiralling feud.