Gardaí on alert for further Kinahan-Hutch attacks, says Minister

Gardaí will be alert this weekend to the threat of further “revenge and retaliation” between the Kinahan and Hutch gangs on the first anniversary of the Regency Hotel shooting, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has said.

Sunday will mark one year since the murder of Kinahan gang member David Byrne during a boxing weigh-in at the hotel, which sparked a spate of murders as the gang feud escalated.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Ms Fitzgerald said there would be heightened security over the weekend as gardaí prepare for any possible retaliation.

She said the Government and An Garda Síochána were determined to ensure the gangs would not win.

Judgment reserved in bid for inquiry into 1976 killing

---

Gardaí never investigated shredding of Seán Fitzpatrick documents

---

Garda force seeks company to carry out ‘cultural audit’

---

Suspended sentence for soup kitchen operator

---

“These gangs think they are above the law, individuals sometimes think they’re above the law, and the message from me is there is no one above the law.

“It may take time but you will not win, and there is no let-up, we will be relentless in doing everything that is necessary.”

Resources

Ms Fitzgerald said the Government would continue to allocate appropriate resources for as long as the “revenge and retaliation” continued.

She said similar situations had developed in Crumlin and Limerick, and gardaí had beaten the criminals.

The new Armed Response Unit, additional resources and strengthened legislation had assisted the Garda in tackling the problems. “That will continue this weekend and every weekend because these gangs do not stop – this cycle of retaliation and revenge – but the Government is relentless.There will be no let-up.

“I want to pay tribute to the work of the guards, and we have seen in recent weeks how much of their work is coming to fruition. But you have to be relentless with criminal gangs who are in a cycle of revenge and retaliation.”

Speaking on RTÉ radio, retired Garda detective Con Cronin agreed there had been a breakthrough in the Garda’s campaign to combat organised crime.

Better intelligence

He said in the year since the Regency Hotel killing resources had improved which had led to better intelligence which in turn had led to the recent arms and drugs seizures.

“For intelligence to work you need resources. There has been a breakthrough in recent times. This has lead to paranoia in the gangs.They are asking ‘who is talking?’ They are carrying out their own investigations and getting it wrong. It is having a snowball effect and people are getting worried.

“They are turning on each other. It is disrupting their business entirely. The Kinahans are saying ‘where can we go, who do we trust’?”