Luxury cars and cash seized in raids on drug gang driving Longford feud

HUNDREDS of gardaí were involved in a massive search operation against one of the gangs driving the dangerous Longford feud.

The operation, which had been planned for weeks, got under way shortly before 7am yesterday and led to the seizure of €110,000 and stg£14,000 (€15,400) in cash, 11 vehicles, three caravans and designer watches, handbags and clothing.

Specialist armed Garda national units were backed up by local officers as they raided 12 homes, three professional premises and a business premises.

Gardaí also froze financial accounts which held in excess of €80,000.

The targeted gang is a member of the Hannifin-organised crime group and is among the main protagonists in the bitter Longford feud.

Investigations have established the gang has bought at least four properties on the same road in a housing estate and a large parcel of development land in Co Longford.

It is estimated one property which was raided yesterday had around €500,000 worth of upgrades made to it, including “marble on every internal surface and pure reference or a plea for clemency.

The Longford feud has resulted in numerous violent incidents, including shootings, arson attacks, assaults and death threats which have led armed gardaí to carry out dozens of major operations.

Senior gardaí have become increasingly concerned the Hannifin gang – which has been involved in a feud with members of the Stokes family in Co Longford – has been building up a “property and business empire” in the county.

“They have been getting bigger all the time and these raids will hurt this gang severely with so many assets being seized,” a senior source told the Irish Independent.

The gang is suspected of being involved in drug dealing, intimidation, extortion, prostitution and of ordering violent feud attacks.

There were no arrests following yesterday’s raids, which were led by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Among the items seized – which have a value of around €500,000 – were vehicles that included a Mercedes saloon, Skoda Kodiaq, Isuzu D-MAX, Ford Ranger, Toyota Land Cruiser and assorted light commercial vehicles – none of which was found to be stolen.

granite pillars and fittings”. Last month, three members of the gang walked free from court after receiving suspended sentences in relation to a violent fracas that inflamed the feud. The incident happened at the Texaco Service Station on the Dublin Road in Longford last June 2. Willie Hannifin (32) of Knockashaw, Dublin Road, Longford; Thomas Hannifin (40) of Dublin Road, Longford; and Denis Hannifin (39) of Curry, Athlone Road, Longford, as well as two male juvenile defendants, all appeared before Judge Keenan Johnson at Longford Circuit Court last month. Thomas and Willie Hannifin pleaded guilty to violent disorder and were each given a three-year suspended jail sentence which was backdated to April 7, when they were first remanded in custody by the local district court. Denis Hannifin was given a one-year suspended sentence, also backdated to when he was remanded in custody for possession of weapons in the fracas. There was controversy after the court hearing, when it emerged local Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty wrote a letter on behalf of the accused men to the court, which he later explained was not a character

Haul: Main picture, a seized Mercedes. Above, a caravan taken by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Top, cash found concealed in a vehicle