Gardaí probe threat in murder investigation

The latest gangland murder victim threatened a notorious criminal figure in the week before his death, gardaí have uncovered.

Neil Fitzgerald, a week after he was released from prison, threatened the gangster in Dublin’s south inner city.

It is one of at least three strong lines of inquiry being followed over Fitzgerald’s murder in a rural area outside Tallaght, Dublin last Saturday.

Gardaí are investigating if the gun attack was linked to the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud which claimed up to 16 lives between 2000 and 2012.

Fitzgerald was a senior figure in the gang headed by jailed boss Brian Rattigan and was a target of the rival Gavin gang. The 36-year-old was released from prison a fortnight ago after serving a sentence for pointing a loaded firearm at three gardaí.

It is understood a week after being freed he bumped into a notorious criminal from the rival gang and threatened him.

Gardaí are investigating a second strong line of inquiry. In June 2008, Fitzgerald was involved in the slashing of a member of the Gavin gang at a music festival.

Gardaí are also examining a third strong line of inquiry surrounding reports of an internal Rattigan dispute, that he threatened a younger member of the gang. One source said Fitzgerald had “enemies all over the place”.

Fitzgerald was living in the Blessington area of Co Wicklow since his release. He was shot six times at close range. He was found at Hills Lane, Crooksling, early on Saturday.

Gardaí later arrested two people, a man and a woman, on suspicion of withholding information.

The pair were associates of the deceased and had been with him earlier in the day.