GARDAI fear that the two key members of the six man gang which trailed and shot dead Veronica Guerin last June have now left the country.
The men are believed to have gone abroad only in recent weeks as the investigation into her murder progressed.
The two, both of whom lived in Dublin until recently, were aware that they were being targeted by detectives investigating the murder on June 26th.
"One attempted to get a passport in his own name three weeks ago but that was frustrated by the Lucan based murder investigation team. However, both are now believed to be abroad.
A senior Garda in Dublin is investigating whether any garda or official helped them secure passports, although they may have travelled with false documents.
One of the men is believed to have fired the five shots into the journalist's car as it was stopped at traffic lights on the Naas Road.
The other is believed by detectives to have driven one of two motorcycles used in the crime.
The names of both men circulated in Dublin criminal circles in connection with the crime shortly after the shooting took place. Last month one of the many marches organised by anti drug activists in Dublin stopped outside the home of the man thought to have driven the motorcycle, an apartment in the city centre. As antidrug, slogans were shouted outside the apartment windows, people taking part in the march discussed among themselves whether the man was the murderer.
The same criminal, in his 30s, later attacked a detective who encountered him on a Dublin street.
Although these two men may now have fled abroad, the Lucan investigation has managed to severely disrupt the drug business in which they were involved in Dublin. At the same time, many dealers have left their homes in the city centre due to pressure from anti drug activists, and according to some observers there now appears to be a shortage of cannabis in the city compared with earlier this year.
One major drug distributor left Ballybough last month and another significant dealer was forced out of the Sheriff Street area last week.
Following exchanges with the marchers at the door of his home on Tuesday night, the mane moved his family out on Wednesday. Locals said he damaged the ceilings and walls of the corporation house with a hammer before leaving, so as to delay its occupation by a new tenant.
A neighbour, also accused of dealing, has been given a week to leave by protesters.
Anti drug campaigners say this week they will compile and read out at a public meeting a list of the names of the dealers who have left the area.