logo
Cartel mobster ‘The Wig' on warpath after Aoife McGregor's salon robbed

Cartel mobster ‘The Wig' on warpath after Aoife McGregor's salon robbed

Sunday World11-05-2025

Drug addict is believed responsible for theft at salon which is owned by Conor McGregor's sister, Aoife
Gangster Graham 'the Wig' Whelan is furious after the tanning salon owned by Conor McGregor's sister Aoife was robbed
Gardaí have received key intelligence that feared mobster Graham 'The Wig' Whelan is on the 'warpath' after a tanning salon owned by his girlfriend, Conor McGregor's sister Aoife, was robbed.
A local drug addict is suspected of robbing a small sum of cash from the Stop N Glow premises on Bridgefoot Street in the Liberties area of the capital early last week.
The matter was not reported to Gardaí but detectives became aware of the crime after receiving information that 'The Wig' has been terrorising people in the south inner city in an attempt to identify the culprit.
According to information received by gardaí, they believe that Whelan has identified the suspect as being most likely based in the nearby Oliver Bond flats complex.
Conor McGregor with his sisters, Erin and Aoife
Gardaí have not received any complaint about the alleged robbery but the believe the culprit is most likely a local drug addict.
'There is a security alert in place because of what is alleged to have happened at Ms McGregor's business and because Mr Whelan is simply a very dangerous individual,' a source told the Sunday World.
'The understanding is that Ms McGregor was not present at her business when this allegedly happened but gardaí cannot properly investigate a crime when it is not reported to them.
'What is known is that Whelan has not taken this very well at all and is determined to find who is responsible for it. It is a matter of respect as far he is concerned and that makes this situation pretty concerning from a policing point of view,' the source explained.
In January, we revealed that Aoife McGregor appointed William Whelan, the father of her gangster boyfriend 'The Wig' as the company secretary of her business.
'This robbery is personal to him – make no mistake about that,' a source said.
The tanning business owned by Aoife McGregor
Aoife (39) has been going out with Kinahan-linked criminal Graham Whelan (42) in recent years and regularly visited him while he was in prison on money- laundering offences.
The company was set up last July but the business only opened up last December.
Career criminal 'The Wig' has 34 convictions, including five drugs convictions.
He was a close pal of David Byrne, who was shot dead in the Regency Hotel attack as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud.
Gangster Graham 'the Wig' Whelan is furious after the tanning salon owned by Conor McGregor's sister Aoife was robbed
News in 90 seconds - 11th May 2025
In December 2022, Whelan was released from prison after serving an 18-month sentence for money-laundering.
'The Wig' was previously jailed for six years over a €1.6million drug seizure at a hotel in Dublin.
The infamous bust, carried out at the Holiday Inn when Whelan was just 17, was seen as the beginning of the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud which resulted in 16 people being murdered.
After being arrested by gardaí, Whelan told them that he could do 10 years in jail 'standing on his head'.
Graham Whelan and Aoife McGregor have been partners for several years
In December 2022, Whelan was released from prison after serving an 18-month sentence for money-laundering.
'The Wig' was arrested but later released without charge by gardaí investigating the feud gun murder of rival criminal Gary Bryan (31) in Walkinstown in September 2006.
Graham 'The Wig' Whelan is out for vengeance
The Sunday World previously revealed that Whelan was a regular player for McGregor's Black Forge pub team, and even handed over a cheque for €750 to homeless charity Stronger Together, which expressed shock when informed as to who had handed over the money.
He is one of the most feared criminals in the country and Gardaí have serious concerns that he may dish out some extreme violence to the drug addict who allegedly targeted Aoife McGregor's tanning salon.
Conor McGregor was ordered to pay Nikita Hand €250,000 in a civil action she took against him
Meanwhile her controversial UFC brother Conor McGregor continues to spark outrage on social media, including last week when he posted an AI-created image of himself as the new pope.
The image was accompanied with the message: 'Surprise surprise motherfooker the king is back!'
He is appealing against the decision by a High Court jury who found him civilly liable for the rape of Drimnagh woman Nikita Hand at a Dublin Hotel in 2018.
The jury found that he raped the hairdresser and awarded her just under €250,000 in damages.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Irish wife of man jailed in Iraq for four years was ‘numb with shock' after release
Irish wife of man jailed in Iraq for four years was ‘numb with shock' after release

Sunday World

timean hour ago

  • Sunday World

Irish wife of man jailed in Iraq for four years was ‘numb with shock' after release

'I got a little advance warning of his release and I was numb with shock as it was so unexpected.' The Irish wife of Robert Pether who was released from an Iraqi jail last night has revealed how she was numb with shock when told the news The couple live in Elphin county Roscommon and Robert was locked up four years ago after being caught up in a dispute between his employers and the Iraqi government but is now out on bail. His wife Desree told the Sunday World, 'I got a little advance warning of his release and I was numb with shock as it was so unexpected.' Robert Pether News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 'He called me from his lawyers phone late last night and only then did I really believe it. It was a video call and he looked so ill he was barely recognizable. 'I hadn't seen him in weeks because he was too weak to take calls and we had been correspnding solely by email' As part of his bail conditions Robert has to remain in Iraq and Desree's efforts to address that have been delayed. 'The Muslim festival of Eid has just begun and nothing gets done for a week so we just have to wait, but having waited four years to get this far we'll manage that 'He needs to get home for medical help so we'll battle on'. Tanáiste Simon Harris pleaded Roberts case in a meeting with Iraqi officials last month and Desree said: 'To be fair the government here have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help'

Loyalist prisoners issued ‘hands-off' order as UVF gun runner begins sentence
Loyalist prisoners issued ‘hands-off' order as UVF gun runner begins sentence

Sunday World

time2 hours ago

  • Sunday World

Loyalist prisoners issued ‘hands-off' order as UVF gun runner begins sentence

Winston 'Winkie' Irvine is over two weeks into a 30-month sentence after being convicted of a raft of arms charges. The UVF has issued a 'hands-off' order as gunrunner Winston 'Winkie' Irvine goes onto the loyalist wing in Maghaberry. The one-time UVF commander is two weeks into a 30-month sentence after being convicted of a raft of arms charges. After a short time on the committal wing he has now moved to the loyalist wing, which houses 13 UDA and UVF prisoners including those recently convicted of the murder of Ian Ogle in 2019. It is understood he will be joined by Robin Workman, who was convicted alongside him but who was handed a five-year term despite being the lesser participant in the incident, which saw police discover a bagful of guns and ammunition in the boot of Irvine's car. There are obvious tensions surrounding his conviction and many questions remain unanswered as to what was he doing driving through Belfast with a carload of weaponry. Winston 'Winkie' Irvine News in 90 Seconds - 6th June 2025 Irvine is a deeply divisive figure, distrusted by UVF members but backed by the terror group's leadership. Now the Sunday World understands chief of staff John 'Bunter' Graham has issued a decree that Irvine is not to be touched while serving his sentence. UVF members are convinced Irvine, former commander of UVF B Company in the Woodvale area of the Shankill, has compromised many volunteers down the years. He is also distrusted over his roles in attempting to resolved parades dispute, in particular the three-year stand off at Twaddell Avenue which saw the Orange Order admit defeat in their attempts to complete their Twelfth return parade to Ligoniel, which would have taken them past the Ardoyne shops flashpoint. Irvine has told friends he intends to take up where he left off when he gets out — which is likely to be within a year with time served and half his sentence on probation. And he is counting on the continued support of Graham and his trusted sidekick 'Harmless' Harry Stockman. John 'Bunter' Graham Despite deep suspicion surrounding Irvine, the pair have stood firm with him. His extensive contacts with both the British and Irish governments guaranteed a flow of grant aid and funding for community and ex-prisoner projects in loyalist areas. Irvine himself secured a stream of publicly funded jobs. At various intervals Irvine has been on the payroll at the Woodvale and Shankill Community Association, Intercomm, a conflict resolution organization which also employed a number of Sinn Féin members, the Duncairn Community Partnership, WGS Residential, WGS Green Energy, North Belfast Policing and Community Partnership and Building Cultural Networks. He is also the organiser of an annual parade on the Shankill in memory of UVF man Brian Robinson, who was shot dead by an undercover army unit in 1989. Despite pleas from the family — who did not support such an event — he went ahead, securing grant aid and charging traders for food stalls. He was also behind the Woodvale Festival, which is understood to receive funding from Belfast City Council. Robin Workman In references handed to court during his criminal proceedings, Irvine's work in trying to help broker a peace settlement in Afghanistan was praised. There is no threat against Irvine and as long as he has the backing of the leadership he will be left alone, but his time behind bars is sure to be uncomfortable. He had confided in friends that he was dreading his stint in the clink because, despite a long paramilitary career, he has no convictions. Until his guns rap, Irvine never faced criminal charges despite being identified as the masked man reading a statement on behalf of the UVF, and pictured in the Sunday World in 2005 rioting in north Belfast, which earned him the nickname 'Winkie The Crate'. He is also suspected of abandoning a cache of weapons recovered by police during the loyalist feud of 2000. 'The leadership has been discredited and embarrassed about what happened with Winkie,' said our source. There has yet to be an explanation as to what Irvine was doing with a bag of guns and ammo when intercepted by police in June 2022. Promises from his legal team of a 'significant announcement'' that would explain his actions have never materialized. His 30-month sentence — half behind bars, half on licence — also raised eyebrows, as his co-accused Robin Workman was handed a five-year tariff. It is understood PSNI forensic tests on the weapons did not uncover any evidence that they had been previously used in terrorist activity.

Louth man smashed up car owned by ex partner's new boyfriend ‘in fit of rage'
Louth man smashed up car owned by ex partner's new boyfriend ‘in fit of rage'

Irish Independent

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Louth man smashed up car owned by ex partner's new boyfriend ‘in fit of rage'

Keith Shelbourne, Avenue One, Yellowbatter, Drogheda, came forward on a signed plea of guilty to a charge of criminal damage at Ellwood, Ballymakenny Road, Drogheda, on October 29, 2023. The car he targetted, a 2017 Audi A5, was written off by insurers. He handed over €10,000 compensation. The court heard that Mr Shelbourne and the lady had broken up. They had a child together. On this occasion he turned up at a house in the early hours of the morning after seeing her in a car with someone else. He began kicking the Audi and shouted for the other man to come outside. The defendant hit the car with a rock, smashing its windows. He used a child's scooter to smash the rest of the windows and break off the wing mirrors. All the while the victim was videoing the incident which was reported to Gardaí at 1.05am. Gda Dara Quinn said that Mr Shelbourne, who has no previous convictions, accepted that he smashed up the vehicle. He didn't express much remorse. The €25,500 vehicle was written off by the insurance company. The witness agreed with counsel that this occurred 'in a fit of rage'. There was no indication of any violence in the defendant's previous relationship, while the two men were not known to each other and had no further contact. The compensation was accepted. ADVERTISEMENT In a Victim Impact Statement, the man said that he had recently purchased the car. As a result of what happened he had to buy a cheap van to get to work. His insurance premium had more than doubled from €450 to €950. It was stated on behalf of the accused that he had shared access to his son and that the relationship with the boy's mother was amicable again. He wrote a letter of apology. He regretted the harm he caused. Mr Shelbourne was in full-time work and the sole carer for his mother who had suffered a stroke. It was a substantial amount of compensation for him to put together. He was willing to pay more. Judge Dara Hayes remarked that the context of this was a concern. "An attack on a former girlfriend's new boyfriend. I find that troubling and concerning. She's entitled to move on.' It was a particularly serious offence. Although the word had not been mentioned, he described it as jealousy, The judge said he would seek the guidance of the Probation Service and adjourned sentencing for a report on October 7. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store