Latest victim of gang feud in Dublin was ‘shot for £35k’

Murdered: Kane McCormack GARDAI investigating the death of a 24-year-old convicted criminal, the 13th victim in the Hutch/ Kinahan feud, believe he was shot dead for €40,000 (£35,000).

Senior sources believe Kane McCormack was lured to his death after being enlisted to carry out a ‘hit’ in Dunboyne, Co Meath.

However, instead of being involved in carrying out a murder with the gang, it is understood that McCormack was himself shot dead in a gangland double-cross.

McCormack’s father Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan was shot dead by the Kinahan gang last December.

It is said they targeted McCormack because, in the wake of his father’s murder, he was frequently heard making threats of revenge.

His body was discovered in a field on the Meath/Kildare border by a woman tending goats at around noon on Saturday. He had been shot in the back of the head.

Gardai had formally warned McCormack, also known as Kane Kirwan, that his life was in danger.

Sources have revealed that he had been a prime target for the Kinahan gang for more than a year, even before his father was murdered.

Officers are investigating reports that McCormack met a group linked to notorious gangland figure Jason ‘Jay’ O’Connor on Friday afternoon.

Gardai are probing associates of O’Connor who they believe lured McCormack to his death.

McCormack was reported missing at Blanchardstown Garda station, just two hours before his body was found in a ditch.

The risk of an attempt on McCormack’s life from the Kinahan gang was considered so great that, on appearing in court last month, his solicitor asked that his next court date should not be read out due to the “threat on his life”.

He was facing ammunition charges after he was allegedly caught with 50 rounds of .32 ammunition.

McCormack had links to the Hutch gang and other criminals involved in the city’s drugs trade.