GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the shooting dead of a man in Dublin’s latest gangland killing believe he was murdered by a major crime gang that is the chief suspect for 12 gun murders, six of them since the start of the year.
David Thomas (43), of Cloonlara Crescent, Finglas, was shot in the head as he smoked a cigarette outside the Drake Inn, Finglas, just after 8.30pm on Friday.
A man walked up to Thomas and discharged the shots before running to a car parked at a taxi rank close to the AIB on Main Street, Finglas. The dark blue Opel Corsa was driven to Glasmeen Park, Finglas, where it was burned out.
In 2000 Thomas was cleared of the murder of Eamon O’Reilly (23), Ballymun, in January 1998. Thomas arrived at a pub where O’Reilly had got involved in a fight with members of the Thomas family, and fatally wounded him.
As he was being arrested four days later he shot and wounded two gardaí. He was given suspended sentences after he told the court he only shot the gardaí because he thought they were members of the O’Reilly faction.
Some of Eamon O’Reilly’s associates are now members of the major crime gang in Finglas once led by Martin “Marlo” Hyland.
Gardaí believe this gang shot Thomas last Friday as revenge for Eamon O’Reilly’s murder 11 years ago. Finglas gardaí have appealed for witnesses to Friday’s shooting to contact them.