Row over drug dealing motorbikes led to drone bomb attack in Finglas

Sunday World

07-05-2025

Dispute led to a drone carrying a viable pipe bomb targeting one of the main players in the dispute
Army bomb-disposal robot on a street near the scene where the pipe bomb was discovered
A row over the ownership of two electric motorbikes increased tensions in a bitter criminal row that led to a drone carrying a viable pipe bomb targeting one of the main players in the dispute.
But the lethal pipe bomb, which had a timer and detonator attached to it, ended up being dropped in the garden of an innocent man at around 11pm on Sunday, sparking a massive security alert in Glenties Park, Finglas, Dublin.
As part of the ongoing feud, there were two tit-for-tat shooting incidents outside the homes of the main players over the weekend – as well as a petrol-bomb attack on a property at the same time as the botched Finglas pipe-bomb drone attack.
The row has played a major part in the increasing tension and violence between the two factions, the Irish Independent has learnt.
'These bikes are used for the distribution of drugs, particularly crack cocaine, in the locality,' a source said.
'The bikes are considered a very useful and valuable commodity in this trade.'
It has emerged that a close associate of the intended target of the pipe-bomb attack 'took control' of two of the electric motorbikes in recent weeks from another criminal faction.
Sources said this young gangster, who has family links to the Hutch gang, refused to give the bikes back, despite repeated demands.
Not only was he demanding the bikes back, he was threatening extreme violence
A major crime figure aged 44 – who was previously the right-hand man of jailed Glen 'Mr Flashy' Ward – then got involved in the dispute in an attempt to show that he is the main player in the local drugs trade, according to sources.
'Not only was he demanding the bikes back, he was threatening extreme violence,' a source said.
As the row worsened, the other faction – which apart from the Hutch associate is led by a volatile teenager who is a sworn enemy of the Mr Flashy drugs gang – fired shots close to the 44-year-old drug dealer's home.
This then led to a retaliatory shooting incident, the petrol-bomb attack and the botched pipe-bomb drone attack.
There have been no arrests made yet in relation to any of the incidents.
Army bomb-disposal robot on a street near the scene where the pipe bomb was discovered
The News in 90 Seconds - Wednesday, 7th of May
But gardaí have carried out a number of searches. Armed garda patrols have increased in the area, with the situation being described as 'tense'.
The pipe-bomb target has had previous run-ins with the 44-year-old's mob known as the Mr Flashy crew, ­including when he was attacked with a wheel brace, hammer and golf club in 2022.
He cannot be named for legal reasons, but a close associate of the young man is due to be tried on attempted murder charges in the coming weeks.
The teenager was mentored by this ­veteran criminal, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence in relation to an aggravated burglary on the capital's southside in which a family were terrorised.
It is understood that the young man was in hiding last night.
The 44-year-old who is now at war with the younger criminals has multiple previous convictions.
He has also suffered gunshot injuries, and his home has been shot at previously, as part of other, separate gangland feuds.
He was a very close associate of gunman Tristan Sherry.
Sherry was murdered moments after he shot and fatally wounded Jason Hennessy in Browne's Steakhouse in nearby Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve 2023.
Sources said gardaí have investigated whether the 44-year-old was the second gunman who fled the scene that night and also believe he played an 'organisational role' in the murder.