GARDAÍ BELIEVE they have foiled a gun attack on a gangland figure suspected of organising a double gun murder in Dublin’s north inner city 10 days ago.
On Thursday night a car carrying two men was stopped by an unarmed Garda patrol on Cappagh Road, Finglas. When the uniformed officers searched the vehicle they found a loaded pump-action shotgun.
The men, in their 20s and 30s, were arrested. One is from Dublin’s north inner city, while the other is from Finglas. They were being held at Finglas and Blanchardstown Garda stations.
Both were associates of gangland criminal Paul “Farmer” Martin (39), who was shot dead as he drank in the Jolly Toper Pub in Finglas last August. Detectives are working on the theory that the men were on their way to carry out a shooting in revenge for the Martin murder when they were stopped by gardaí.
The gang leader involved in that murder also arranged for the shooting dead two years ago of leading criminal Martin “Marlo” Hyland and has effectively taken over Hyland’s gang.
The same gang leader, a drug dealer and armed robber from Finglas, is believed to have arranged the shooting dead of two men in Dublin’s north inner city last Wednesday week.
Michael “Roly” Cronin (35), Ballymun, and James Maloney (26), from Dublin’s south inner city, were shot dead as they sat in a car just off Summerhill in Dublin.
The suspect ran away. A revolver found under a car at nearby Gloucester Place was believed to have been used by the killer. Gardaí believe they know the identity of the suspect. He is a convicted armed robber and has a long history of drug use.
The suspect’s partner and his former girlfriend were among five people arrested on Thursday morning. All five were being questioned on suspicion of withholding information about the murders.
The suspected gunman has gone missing and was not one of the five arrested.
Among the five are two men with inner city addresses. One of them is the son of a very well known criminal, who has served sentences for drug crime and for a violent attack in which a man died.
Four of the men had been released last night without charge. One man was still being held at Store Street Garda station and a file is being prepared for the DPP.