Irish Daily Mirror

KINAHANS: WE’LL CARRY ON KILLING

»»Innocent Clive blasted as warning to ‘The Monk’ »» Hutch relative shot in head by ruthless hitman

- By emma Mcmenamy

THE murder of an innocent relative of Gerry “The Monk” Hutch was a chilling warning from the kinahans their feud is far from over.

Clive Staunton’s van was riddled with six bullets outside his home on Thursday night.

As the 50-year-old dad of one desperatel­y tried to crawl to safety he was blasted twice in the head by a hitman.

It is believed the Kinahans killed the street trader from Leixlip, Co Kildare, because he was related to Hutch.

A source said: “They want to get under his skin and send the message they will keep going until they get to him.”

AN innocent relative of Gerry “The Monk” Hutch was blasted twice in the head as he crawled on the ground to escape a Kinahan hitman.

Clive Staunton, a distant relation of the former veteran criminal, was targeted after selling jerseys at the Ireland match at the Aviva Stadium.

A gunman riddled the 50-year-old’s van with bullets and, while he managed to get out of the vehicle, he collapsed and was shot again.

A source told the Irish Mirror the killers want to send a message to Hutch they are “not going away” and will not stop until they kill him.

They said: “They don’t care and are willing to go to great lengths to knock off someone they think is even remotely connected to The Monk.

“They want to get under his skin and send the message they will keep going until they get to him.

“It’s very sad an innocent man, who was just going about his business, was targeted like this.” The gunman opened fire on the dad of one in the Glen Easton Way housing estate in Leixlip, Co Kildare, on Thursday night.

He may have been seen as an easy target as all the key members of the Hutch gang are being too heavily monitored.

Another theory being examined is Mr Staunton fell foul of a serious criminal over a domestic dispute.

Officers believe the street trader may have been watched as he was working at the Ireland soccer game before being followed back to his home of 20 years.

His killer or killers fled the area in a silver Volvo car.

The source added: “Clive was a quiet, hardworkin­g, nice fella.

“He was not involved in crime in any shape or form.

“It’s believed he may have been targeted purely for being a distant relative.

“He had been selling jerseys at the Ireland versus Northern Ireland game and left early to return home. It’s believed he was being closely watched as he went about his work and was followed back to his house.

“As he pulled up to the driveway six shots were fired at the van.

“He got out and was trying to escape when the gunman came up behind him and blasted him twice in the back of the head.

“The Glen Easton estate where he lives has nearly a dozen gardai living in it yet the gang were brazen enough to still carry out the hit.”

Three cars are believed to have been used in the murder with one found burnt out 22km away in Manor Kilbride on the edge of the Wicklow Mountains.

DOUBLE-CROSS

The killing of the football fanatic bears a striking resemblanc­e to the shooting of Noel “Kingsize” Duggan in March 2016.

He was a friend of “The Monk” and is believed to have been targeted for that reason.

Mr Staunton, who is originally from Greek Street in Dublin’s city centre, became a widower when his wife died of cancer in February 2016. He has one son in his 20s.

The bloody Hutch-kinahan feud has claimed at least 15 lives despite the success of detectives in thwarting several hits.

The killings began in Spain with the double-cross murder of Gary Hutch, a nephew of The Monk, in September 2015.

This was followed by the shooting of David Byrne at a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. This month three people were sentenced to life for their roles in the murder of dad-of-one Gareth Hutch in May 2016.

Mr Staunton, who was a big football fan and member of a Manchester United Supporters’ Club, is also believed to be related to another innocent man who was run over and shot twice in the stomach last year.

The victim survived the attack but is understood to have since moved to Australia as he fears for his life.

Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O’callaghan said last night the murder of Mr Staunton shows the fight against

organised crime is far from over. He added: “Since this feud first erupted the gardai have done remarkable work in their attempt to contain threats and violence.

“On many occasions their work has successful­ly intercepte­d plots to carry out murder and other vicious crimes on our streets.

“One of the main reasons for that has been the increase in Garda presence in the communitie­s’ worst affected.

“The Government must do its utmost to ensure adequate resources and overtime for gardai are maintained. Last night’s murder was a particular­ly callous and brazen crime.

“This victim appears to have been targeted despite detectives confirming he had no involvemen­t in criminalit­y or link to gangland associates.

TERROR

“The fact a man living in a quiet family estate could be attacked and killed yards from his doorstep sets a new precedent.

“The fight against organised crime and those inflicting terror in the capital and now the satellite towns surroundin­g it must be ramped up.”

Tributes poured in for the victim on social media yesterday.

Craig Clarke wrote: “Rip Clive Staunton. You were a gentleman and funny. RIP.”

Paul Mckeon posted: “RIP Clive, he was a big Manchester United fan.”

The Residents’ Associatio­n for Glen Easton estate called on locals to report any suspicious vehicles to the authoritie­s. Their statement followed reports of a white van in the area on the day of the murder.

Supt Gerry Wall said gardai are looking to speak to anyone who was in the estate between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Thursday. He urged anyone with informatio­n about the murder to contact Leixlip Garda station on 01-6667800.

THE cold-blooded murder of Clive Staunton outside his home is an abominatio­n committed by callous monsters.

It is being reported this was part of the murderous Hutch-kinahan feud but this street trader had nothing whatsoever to do with gangs or gangsters.

His only link to this world was that he was a distant relative of Gerry “The Monk” Hutch.

He was an ordinary citizen going about his business when he was mercilessl­y cut down by hired assassins.

The father-of-one’s murder effectivel­y means no one is safe as the Kinahan cartel, which has been unable to get at the Hutchs directly, is willing to target anyone with little or no connection to the family.

It is shocking an ordinary man can be singled out and marked for death by the twisted criminals controlled by the Kinahan mob.

Such is the blood lust to avenge the murder of David Byrne, who was gunned down at Dublin’s Regency Hotel, anyone is fair game.

What is even more depressing is that despite the many successes gardai have had in preventing planned assassinat­ions there are still those who will murder innocent citizens for money.

Those who committed this ghastly murder must be brought before the courts and, more importantl­y, those who ordered and paid for it must stand in the dock beside them.

 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ?? FEUD Gerry Hutch and Daniel Kinahan
FEUD Gerry Hutch and Daniel Kinahan
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 ??  ?? APPEAL Supt Gerry Wall
APPEAL Supt Gerry Wall

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