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The Irish Sun

Mr Flashy mob reign of terror over as notorious Gucci Gang leader Glen Ward joins bro behind bars for party rifle stunt

THE reign of terror orchestrated by the mob run by Glen 'Mr Flashy' Ward is at an end after he was caged for five-and-a-half years yesterday. Ward — named in the High 6 Eric O'Driscoll and Glen Ward are now both behind bars Credit: IrishPhotoDesk 6 Images and videos of the ­weapons used by the gang were released by investigators Credit: Garda Press Office Handout 6 The guns were recovered from a back garden close to the gang's base Credit: Garda Press Office Handout Although the gangster has been a target for He was convicted of possessing the weapon after Gardai recovered a video from a phone showing Ward firing the gun and also encouraging his 23-year-old younger brother Eric O'Driscoll to discharge the firearm. Images and videos of the ­weapons — an AR-15 and Mach 10 — used by the siblings were released by the Gardai after yesterday's ­sentencing. O'Driscoll — classified by Gardai as a 'hot-head' with a 'propensity for violence' — also received a five-year sentence over his decision to use the firearm on the video. Read more in News One former investigator told us: 'Ward's gang caused untold mayhem to families across Finglas for many years. 'They were using the name of the Kinahan group to instil fear in the communities. 'There will be a sense of relief in Finglas and west 'Ward had been on the Garda radar for years and they kept the pressure on until he was caught. Most read in The Irish Sun 'Thankfully, their gang's ability to engage in serious and organised crime is now over.' The investigator added: 'Ward was very nice to Gardai when he was often stopped — but cops knew about the level of violence his gang were capable of. 'LAVISH LIFESTYLES' 'They earned the nickname 'Gucci Gang' because they were using the illegal proceeds of crime to fund their lavish lifestyles.' Feuding between rival criminal gangs led to a number of murders including those of gang members Zach Parker and Sean Little. The pair were also pals with Kinahan cartel hitmen Caolan Smyth, who was jailed over a failed hit on Hutch associate James Gately and Mohammed Smew, who was part of a hit team tasked with killing At the time they were feuding with former pals in 2019 and again in 2022, they were also recruiting kids as young as 13 years old to move WEAPONS FOUND The guns shown on the videos were recovered from a back garden close to the gang's base — later seized by Dublin City Council — in Finglas in February 2022. Over 300 rounds of ammunition were also recovered by cops. And between 2021 and 2022, Gardai recovered over €1m in drugs linked to the gang and €85,000 in cash in a series of raids. During the hearing at the Special Criminal Court, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said the weapon used was 'powerful' and 'capable of causing serious injury or death'. Investigators were only made aware of the siblings' access to the firearms when they examined a mobile phone in June 2022. PHONE EVIDENCE On that occasion, the phone was taken after Ward and his brother survived a murder bid when shots were fired at a taxi they were travelling in. The video showed Ward firing the AR-15 in the sky with a number of his associates looking on. It then showed O'Driscoll firing three shots into the air. Although officers recovered two firearms from the gang's arms stash, we can reveal they are still searching for another AR-15. In passing sentence, Ms Judge Greally said that there is a 'certain unreality' to the suggestion that Ward had only a fleeting involvement with the ­firearm. PLEA ACCEPTED However, she accepted that there was a 'dearth of evidence of his relationship to the firearm', and his plea was accepted based on what can be seen in the video clip. Since Ward's arrest, the court heard how he and his brother have been in a 23-hour lock-up due to threats against them. 'There will be a sense of relief in Finglas and west Dublin that the leader of this gang and his brother are now behind bars." Former investigator And when released, Ward has undertaken not to associate with six associates — all from the Finglas area — whose names have been given to the court. Ms Justice Greally sentenced Ward to six years and three months but suspended the final nine months. He must also keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months after his release, or he could serve the suspended portion of the ­sentence. 'HISTORY OF ORGANISED CRIME' Det Supt Paul Murphy told how the pair had a 'history of involvement in organised crime'. The senior officer said: 'An Garda Siochana acknowledges the convictions and sentences imposed by the Special Criminal Court on Eric O'Driscoll and Glen Ward. 'The commitment of detectives at Finglas Garda Station to investigate these individuals with a history of involvement in organised crime in our capital city, and locally in their own community in Finglas, has ensured the conviction of both by the Special Criminal Court. 'Criminals, like Eric O'Driscoll and Glen Ward, act and believe that they are above the law, inflicting significant harm and tragedy on families in the community in which they live, but also operate their criminality from.' 'YOU'RE DISPOSABLE' He continued: 'My message to young people in our communities is there is nothing positive these criminals can offer you and their actions are motivated by greed and are only self-serving. You are disposable to them. 'These convictions and sentences are a clear message to any person who involves themselves in any way with organised crime or criminal activity that An Garda Síochána will investigate these matters and they will be brought to justice before the courts. 'I would like to reassure the public in the greater Finglas area, An Garda Siochana does not tolerate organised criminal behaviour. 'Finally, my message to any person who uses illegal drugs is that, although you might consider yourself removed from organised crime, every time you buy or consume illegal drugs you are directly supporting criminals such as Glen Ward and Eric O'Driscoll and the misery that they have inflicted on their communities.' GANG'S REIGN OF TERROR And as Ward starts the first day of his sentence, we reveal new details of his gang's reign of terror between 2019 and 2022. As the mob flexed its muscles in the drugs trade in north Dublin, they embarked on a campaign of intimidation against anyone who opposed them. This included arson attacks, shooting, pipe bombings and assaults. On one occasion, they kidnapped a young man and threatened to kill him over a drug debt. 'Criminals, like Eric O'Driscoll and Glen Ward, act and believe that they are above the law, inflicting significant harm and tragedy on families in the community in which they live, but also operate their criminality from.' Det Supt Paul Murphy But the victim refused to make a complaint to Gardai over fears his family would be killed. On another occasion, they also placed a gun in the mouth of a young girl who owed a debt. 6 Gardai recovered a video from a phone showing Ward firing a gun Credit: IrishPhotoDesk 6 Over 300 rounds of ammunition were also recovered by cops Credit: Garda Press Office Handout 6 Between 2021 and 2022, Gardai recovered over €1m in drugs linked to the gang Credit: Garda Press Office Handout