Cops arrest four and foil abduction linked to notorious west Dublin mob
Its history is being tracked as part of the ongoing probe.
The four kidnap gang-members were arrested but so far the former sports star, who was unharmed, has declined to give a statement to gardaí about his abduction.
Detectives are investigating whether a west Dublin-based gang “outsourced” the abduction to the four gang members who were being questioned in north Dublin Garda stations yesterday.
The suspects are all aged in their 20s. Three had been living in Galway and the other in the Clondalkin area of the capital.
One of the Galway-based suspects is a convicted drug dealer who served a lengthy jail sentence after being caught with a large amount of drugs.
The Clondalkin-based suspect (28) previously lived in Co. Kildare and has convictions for assaulting a garda and several other offences.
It’s understood the former sports star is on a PSNI watch list as he is currently before the courts in Northern Ireland on drug and money laundering charges.
The case was mentioned before a court in Belfast during which it emerged he had been charged in connection with a major investigation into drug dealing and organised crime.
Under UK law, money laundering carries a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
Supply of ‘class A’ substances carries a penalty of up to life in prison.
FIREARM
After gardaí intercepted the vehicle, the man was examined but did not make a statement.
A security source yesterday described the investigation into his abductions, saying law enforcement on both sides of the border is investigating separate aspects of the crime.
“The PSNI are investigating the kidnapping in Belfast while gardai are investigating the offence of false imprisonment and possession of an illegal firearm,” he said.
“The investigation has been complicated by the fact the alleged victim has so far declined to give a statement.
STRANGE
“Obviously, as these arrests yet again prove, there is extremely good co-operation on matters such as this between the PSNI and Gardaí.
The source described as ‘strange’ the decision by the gang to drive their victim down the M1 and onto the M50 if the immediate plan was simply to murder him.
“It’s possible he was being brought to meet someone before a final decision was going to be made,” he said.
“At the very least this was a very serious attempt to threaten and intimidate but it is equally likely that had the PSNI and gardaí not intervened, he could have ended up dead.”
Contacted yesterday, a spokesperson for the gym, where the sports star is listed as a director, claimed he is no longer associated with this business.
In a statement about the case, Gardaí said:
“An Garda Síochána continue to liaise closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Investigations are ongoing.”