Armed garda units turn up the heat on gangland thugs

Claire Murphy

The armed garda Emergency Response Unit will continue to be a presence on the streets of Dublin in response to escalating gangland warfare.

Some seven men have been killed in gun and knife attacks since the beginning of the year.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Feehan has confirmed that gardai have made inroads into the investigation of gangland murders.

"We have had some significant success and a massive feedback from the public," he confirmed on RTE's Crimecall programme last night.

Serious

"It's designed to confront armed and serious crime. Local gardai are supported by targeted and rolling checkpoints. The Emergency Response Unit is just one element. Significant resources have been deployed in the investigation of these cases."

An Garda Siochana have also renewed their appeal for further information into the murder of John Paul Joyce (30).

The member of a heroin distribution gang was kidnapped in Coolock on January 7 and his body was found in Dunbro Lane near the airport.

Joyce was last seen on the Ferrycarraig Road on that date at 7pm.

He had planned to go to the Glin area of Coolock but when he didn't appear, his fiancee became concerned and reported him missing.

Joyce was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head.

Days later, Brendan Molyneux (46) and Paddy Mooney (58) were both shot dead in a local authority flat off Pearse Street, in Dublin, on January 11.

And just a week after that, Noel Deans (27) was the next victim of gangland crime when he was killed leaving a pub in Coolock.

clairemurphy@herald.ie