Revenge threat and feud led to high security at court

An unprecedented Garda security operation was put in place at the inquests into the deaths of Colm Griffin and Eric Hopkins.

All members of the press and public attending the inquest were required to walk through a metal detector at the entrance of the Coroner's Court. Gardaí carried out searches of bags and other personal effects carried by all in attendance.

There was also a strong uniformed Garda presence in the vicinity of the courthouse and armed gardaí took up positions on the roof of the court. Garda witnesses were permitted to give their evidence from behind a curtain and were not required to state their names.

When both men were shot by gardaí during the botched post office raid in Lusk in May 2005, gardaí believed their criminal associates wanted to kill a member of the force in revenge.

Since then the risk posed by the dead men's associates has heightened significantly, for reasons unrelated to the shooting dead of the men.

Colm Griffin's brother is Christopher Griffin (37), Ridgewood Green, Swords, and formerly of Canon Lillis Ave. He was convicted in January of the rape and sexual assault of his partner's young daughter. He was jailed for life in April. However, before his trial a feud erupted in which criminals close to Griffin became embroiled in serious tit-for-tat violence with another north inner-city faction who wanted to target him because he was a rapist. The violence took the shape of on-street beatings, drive-by shootings and grenade attacks. It culminated in the shooting dead of two men late last year.

Gerard Byrne (25), of Ferryman's Crossing, Dublin, was shot dead in the IFSC on December 13th. Stephen Ledden (28), was shot in the head at Oriel Street, Dublin, on December 27th.

Gardaí were fearful the inquest that concluded yesterday may prompt a fresh round of violence.