Mobsters caught red-handed moving gun were working in plot to kill pal of slain drug dealer as sinister details revealed

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

Gardai believe they were brought into the plot by associates of The Family gang
EVIL BID FOILED Mobsters caught red-handed moving gun were working in plot to kill pal of slain drug dealer as sinister details revealed
TWO men jailed after being caught red-handed with a gun days before Christmas were working as part of a plot to kill a close pal of slain drug dealer Cormac Berkeley.
The Irish Sun can reveal Michael Simpson, 36, and Declan Coulahan, 46, were slapped with six-year terms this week, and are suspected of moving the firearm and making preparations for a hit team before gardai intervened.
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Cormac Berkeley was shot dead a few years back in Dublin
Credit: Collect
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Cops found a semi-automatic handgun in a Tesco bag in the van
Credit: Gardai
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Declan Coulahan was slapped with a six-year term
Credit: Supplied
Cops suspect that a gang led by a convicted drug dealer from Crumlin in south Dublin teamed up with Ireland's top drug traffickers,
The Family, to take out the man who was closely aligned with Berkeley in a 'joint enterprise'.
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Drug dealer Berkeley was blasted to death over two years ago in Neilstown in west Dublin, on December 5, 2022.
Another sinister element of the plan was the suspected involvement of two thugs — notorious ­hitman Charles McClean and a dangerous criminal — in helping direct the kill bid from prison.
But the attempt was brought down by investigators from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau when they set up an op around Simpson's home in Rowlagh Avenue, Clondalkin on December 17 last.
Detective Sergeant Leo Clayton told Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court that it was put in place ­following a confidential tip-off.
Simpson emerged from his home as he was being picked up by Coulahan in a van, before armed gardai intercepted with their guns drawn.
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Cops found a semi-automatic handgun in a Tesco bag in the van, while Simpson had ten rounds of ammo in his pocket.
Although Simpson had been well-known to Gardai, Coulahan, of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, had never come to their attention before.
Gardai believe they were brought into the plot by associates of The Family gang.
A source told The Irish Sun: 'It is not suspected that these two men were the hit team, but rather involved in the logistical side of things — in terms of holding the gun, prepping and moving it.
'The target of the attack was a close associate of Cormac Berkeley who was shot dead a few years back in Dublin.
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'This man has been under huge threat since Berkeley's death, something he is well aware of.'
WHAT IS 'THE FAMILY' GANG?
THEY'VE been operating in the shadows of criminality for over 20 years.
But The Family gang are now classified by Gardai under Operation Compact as one of Ireland's primary transnational drug trafficking mobs.
The crime syndicate previously played second fiddle to the Kinahan cartel when it came to drugs importation, firearms smuggling and money laundering operations.
But since the convictions of senior Kinahan goons such as Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady and Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh, The Family are now the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau's number one target.
The Family was established by brothers from west Dublin.
Although involved in organised crime for over 20 years, the gang's strategy has been to keep out of the spotlight.
The mob started by smuggling heroin into Ireland from international contacts across Europe.
Before the Kinahan and Hutch feud, Daniel Kinahan's gang would have supplied The Family with shipments of drugs and guns.
But when the Gardai moved against the cartel during their feud, The Family found their own sources.
Their main customer base was in the Ballyfermot, Clondalkin, Ronanstown, Kilmainham and Tallaght areas of Dublin.
They started with heroin, then moved into the cocaine and cannabis trade in the Celtic Tiger years.
And unlike the Kinahan organisation, who based themselves in Spain before relocating to Dubai, The Family leadership chose to remain in Ireland.
As business boomed, The Family also sought new ways to launder their profits from drug trafficking.
They did this by trading in cars and investing in legitimate businesses.
Since the GNDOCB went on the offensive against The Family, they have seized over €40million worth of drugs, over €7m in cash and have arrested and charged 'top tier' targets and seized assets such as luxury cars and designer watches.
Gardai believe they were laundering €100m in drug cash every year.
After the Garda intervention, the prison cells of McClean and the other jailed criminal suspected to have helped direct the hit were searched.
McClean — a notorious figure in Ireland's underworld scene — is currently serving a total of 20 years in prison over investigations into three gangland ­murders.
They include impeding the prosecution of those behind the ­murder of crazed Mark 'The Guinea Pig' Desmond in 2016, conspiring to ­murder Wayne Whelan in September 2019, and facilitating a criminal organisation in murdering Thomas McCarthy — who was innocent — back in 2020.
The other jailed ­gangster involved hails from Crumlin and is ­currently serving a sentence after he was caught handing over a loaded handgun to another man.
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CAUGHT 'RED-HANDED'
Both Simpson and Coulahan pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm and one count of possessing ammunition on December 17, 2024.
Simpson further admitted ­possessing around €5,500 of cocaine for sale or supply and €68 worth of cannabis, drugs which were found during a search of his house afterwards.
Judge Martina Baxter noted both Simpson and Coulahan had been caught 'red-handed' and were crucial 'facilitators' in the operation.
She told how the firearm had been made up of two different guns, saying it was 'a very lethal weapon', adding: 'Having regard to its composite structure, it would be very difficult to find its origin.'
Simpson — who had 85 previous convictions for possession of drugs and for sale and supply — was handed a six-year sentence with six months suspended.
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Coulahan, who had no previous convictions, was given the same term, but the last 12 months were suspended in his case.
The investigation into Simpson and Coulahan was led by Detective Inspector Padraig Mullarkey and Detective Superintendent Dave Gallagher of the GNDOCB.
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Michael Simpson was also caged
Credit: COLLECT