GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING a series of gun murders linked to the biggest criminal gang in the Republic believe one man carried out at least four of the killings.
The suspect is in Garda custody following his arrest yesterday for one of the murders, that of David Thomas (43), Cloonlara Crescent, Finglas, Dublin.
Thomas was shot in the head while smoking outside the Drake Inn, Finglas, last October. In 2000 he was cleared of the murder of Eamon O’Reilly (23), Ballymun, in 1998.
He arrived at a pub where O’Reilly was involved in a fight with some 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 they killed Thomas in revenge for O’Reilly’s killing.
A member of the gang was arrested yesterday and is being questioned at Finglas Garda station about Thomas’s murder.
Gardaí believe they have firm evidence linking the arrested man to two other gun killings. He is also suspected of at least one other gun murder. Details of the three gangland murders cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.
The suspect is being questioned under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. He can be held for 72 hours without charge.