Fear feud thug will return home after kidnap plot acquittal in UK
THERE are fears a prominent member of the Price-Maguire Organised Crime gang will return to Drogheda after he was acquitted for conspiracy to kidnap two brothers in the UK.
Mark Kavanagh (34) of Yellowbatter in Drogheda — who is aligned with paralysed Drogheda mob boss Owen Maguire and Cornelius Price — was one of five people on trial since last November for conspiracy to kidnap two brothers in the UK.
Danny Bridges (41) of Stourporton-Severn, Lisa Finnerty (39) of Lancashire and Kavanagh denied two charges of conspiracy to falsely imprison, two charges of conspiracy to blackmail and two of conspiracy to kidnap the brothers between July 7 and 17 2020.
All three were acquitted of the charges on Monday by a jury following the trial which commenced on November 9 last year at Wood Green Crown Court.
Darren McClean, from Ireland and living in Cottenham in Cambridgeshire and Quincy Bramble (33) of East London were also cleared of the same charges.
Jury
However, the jury is still deliberating on two charges against McClean and Bramble of conspiracy to falsely imprison the brothers and two charges of conspiracy to blackmail the brothers.
Gang boss Cornelius Price, originally from Gormanston, Co Meath, has been unable to stand trial with his five associates after suffering a brain injury.
The 40-year-old gangland criminal is charged with conspiring to falsely imprison and blackmail the two brothers in July 2020. His trial has been adjourned indefinitely due to his ill health.
Price — whom gardai believe was a key figure in one of the two gangs involved in the Drogheda feud — moved to the UK following a wave of violence in the Co Louth town, including the killing of teen Keane Mulready Woods in January 2020.
Kavanagh also fled to the UK around the same time as he is a main target for the so-called AntiMaguire faction.
Celebrations
“Kavanagh left the country in 2020 at the height of the Drogheda feud but now that things have died down there’s a fear that it’s likely he will return and reunite with Owen Maguire,” a source told The Star.
“Kavanagh and his two co-accused who were also acquitted enjoyed major celebrations on Monday night now that they now free.”
However, Kavanagh, who in 2019 had 27 previous convictions here, has two live bench warrants for his arrest. One of the warrants is for the purpose of sentencing him after he was convicted of road traffic offences — including a fourth no insurance offence.
The second relates to having €400 worth of cocaine in his bedroom. He was convicted in his absence in January 2020.
In March 2019, Kavanagh was given a two-month suspended sentence for being in possession of a steel baseball bat and two large pickaxe handles, made for causing injury.
“If he returns here those warrants should be executed,” the source continued.