Man knifed 12 times af ter gang ram car

Romanian mobs battle over organised prostitution

TWO Romanian crime gangs ‘at war’ over organised prostitution got into a car and street brawl which left a man with 12 stab wounds yesterday. The incident happened when a Saab car carrying five men rammed the back of a Volkswagen with two rival gang members on board at around 5am at Dublin’s Custom House.

The pair fled on foot chased by the gang who caught up with the passenger and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest and legs.

The victim, who is in his 30s, is recovering in the Mater Hospital where he is expected to survive his injuries. Gardaí recovered €700 on him in hospital.

His associate, who was driving the Volkswagen car was not injured. He has since been interviewed by gardaí as a witness but it is understood he has not been able to provide ‘much insight’.

Through their own inquiries, gardaí have established that both factions are currently embroiled in a row over ownership of the Romanian prostitution racket in Ireland.

A senior source said: ‘This was a serious incident. It was violent and dangerous at a busy junction in the city centre, despite the early hour. There was no concern for anyone else who was on the road or in the vicinity.

‘It was vicious and the man in hospital could have easily been killed. It is all over the control of prostitutes by Romanians all over Ireland. It’s lucrative and they are fighting over who’s in charge.’

The source added both groups of men are run ‘profitable businesses’ involving Eastern European prostitutes, who advertise online.

However, no arrests have yet been made as yet. .

There was extensive impact damage to the rear of the VW and the front of the Saab.

A Garda spokesman said: ‘Gardaí at Store Street are investigating an incident which occurred at Beresford Place, Dublin 1. It is understood from initial investigations that a car was rammed by another car at Beresford Place.

‘The male driver and male passenger of the rammed car fled on foot and were followed by a number of men from the second car. The spokesman continued: ‘The male passenger in his 30s received a number of injuries having been assaulted at Custom House Plaza, Dublin 1. The driver was uninjured.

‘The injured man is receiving treatment at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.

‘His injuries are non-life threatening.

‘No arrests have been made and investigations are continuing.’

Gardaí who responded to the incident sealed off the junction where Amiens Street joins with Beresford Place.

Traffic ground to a halt after the crash and subsequent investigation.

‘It was violent and dangerous’ ‘The man could have been killed’