Four held on remand after ‘gangland murder’ probe

FOUR men charged with conspiracy to murder a Dublin man have been remanded in custody.

Alan Wilson, Luke Wilson, Liam Brannigan and Joseph Kelly are accused of plotting to murder Gary Hanley, 28, from Dublin’s northside.

In an operation targeting organised crime gangs, gardaí from Special Crime Operations – assisted by the Emergency Response Unit and the Armed Support Unit – arrested the four men last Monday evening in the north inner-city.

The probe was in connection with the ongoing feud between rival Hutch-Kinhan gangs which has resulted in the deaths of 12 people.

Gardaí also seized a gun. The four who were arrested for conspiracy to murder have been detained since. They were charged at the weekend and held pending their appearance before Judge Michael Walsh at Dublin District Court yesterday.

Alan Wilson, 38, of New Street Gardens, Dublin 8 and Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, are charged with conspiracy to murder Mr Hanley at a location within the State between September 15 and November 6 last.

Co-defendants Joseph Kelly, 35, from Kilworth Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, and Luke Wilson, 23, from Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, are also accused of conspiracy to murder Mr Hanley. Both were also charged with unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 15 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at Philipsburgh Avenue, Fairview, Dublin 3, on November 6 last, the date of their arrest.

The District Court cannot grant bail in a murder conspiracy case so they were remanded in custody to appear via video-link at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday.

All of the accused, except for Mr Brannigan, are on social welfare and so they have been granted legal aid.

Judge Walsh deferred ruling on Mr Brannigan’s aid application.

None of the men have indicated how they will plead to the charges.