BACKGROUND:DUBLIN'S SHERIFF Street feud is one of Ireland's most volatile gangland disputes. The feud began when Christie Griffin, the head of a major organised crime gang in Dublin's north inner city, was accused of raping an underaged girl over an eight-year period writes Conor LallyCrime Correspondent.
When the allegation emerged almost five years ago, Griffin's armed robbery and drug-dealing gang fell apart. Some of his henchmen remained loyal to him.
Others were appalled by the rape and formed their own faction in opposition to the Griffin group.
With members of the opposing groups all being former associates - and living side-by-side in the close-knit community - the fighting was always going to be fierce. The attacks have proven relentless.
In October 2005 shots were fired into Griffin's home in Ridgewood Green, Swords - where he had moved from Cannon Lillis Avenue, Dublin 1 - wounding him in the arm.
Ensuing drive-by gun attacks saw Griffin's rape victim's home being shot up, followed by a revenge gun attack at another house just minutes later.
In November 2006, a hand grenade was thrown into Griffin's home and exploded. Another grenade was then thrown into a relative's house, but failed to detonate.
In December 2006, as Griffin's trial for rape approached, tensions peaked, with two men losing their lives in as many weeks.
Gerard Batt-Byrne (25) of Ferryman's Crossing, Dublin 1, was shot dead in the IFSC on December 13th. He was a rival of Griffin's.
The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and other armed gardaí were called into the area around Sheriff Street and the IFSC to deter further attacks.
But just two weeks later a gunman crept into a house on Oriel Street and shot Stephen Ledden (28) in the head as he lay on a sofa. He was shot by mistake by a killer targeting another man thought to be behind Batt-Byrne's murder.
The following month, in January 2007, Griffin was convicted of rape and jailed for life. But his imprisonment did nothing to calm the situation.
In April of this year, Anthony Russell (30), Cromcastle Drive, Kilmore, was gunned down as he sat drinking with friends in the Ardlea Inn, Artane. Russell was close to Griffin and was believed to have been involved in the killing of Gerard Batt-Byrne.
Following the killing of Gavin McCarthy last Sunday - which may be feud-related - the Garda's presence in the Sheriff Street area, including deployment of the ERU, is already being reviewed.
Gardaí have drawn up a list of 30 men they believe could be targeted as a result of the feud.
Some of those on the list have recently threatened to kill gardaí. That threat was made in the wake of the shooting dead by members of the force of two raiders in an attempted post office robbery in Lusk, Co Dublin, in May 2005. One of those killed was Colm Griffin, a brother of Christie Griffin.
The threat to kill gardaí was taken so seriously that Garda witnesses at the inquest last September into the deaths of the two shot in Lusk were allowed to give evidence from behind a screen. In an unprecedented move, airport-style security was put in place at Dublin's Coroner's Court and armed gardaí were stationed on the roof.
Christie Griffin's imminent appeal against his rape conviction is likely to prove another flashpoint for gardaí to try and contain.