Gardai are expected to have a security operation in place around the funeral of gangland shooting victim James Whelan — fearing further violence between the feuding gangs will erupt.
The 29-year-old was gunned down and killed by notorious Finglas drug dealer Mr Flashy’s mob in the early hours of last Sunday morning, April 3.
‘Mr Flashy’ was his former pal and now enemy.
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He is the first victim in the ongoing feud in the Dublin suburb.
His body has been released back to his family who are now preparing to bury him after his funeral Mass which will take place on Wednesday morning at River Mount Parish, in Finglas.
Armed gardai are expected to closely monitor the criminal’s funeral as he had many criminal connections throughout Dublin.
“It is expected a major security operation will be put in place. But it will be stepped back and won’t interfere with the funeral service,” a source told The Star . “There will also be a certain element of covert surveillance in place too.”
“This is quite normal for gangland funerals in case there is any violence or retaliations,” the source said.
Whelan, a father-of-one, is believed to have been attempting to carry out a petrol bomb attack on a property connected to Finglas mob boss Mr Flashy when he was shot dead in the Deanstown Avenue area of Finglas.
It is also understood that Whelan, who had over 50 convictions, had fallen out in recent months with Mr Flashy — who gained his nickname from his constant flaunting of his wealth and designer gear on social media.
The feuding between both sides reached boiling point when an associate of Mr Flashy was abducted, beaten and dumped in Finglas last month.
Whelan’s murder marks a new departure for the Finglas feud, which had only seen violent attacks and assaults before he was ruthlessly shot dead.
And gardai now fear further violence between the feuding gangs — with sources saying gardai now believe a key associate of Mr Flashy was the gunman who shot Whelan.
In the weeks before he was fatally shot, he had been the victim of sustained attacks on social media and this war of words continued hours after he was dead with taunting on social media from both sides of the rival factions.
Just some of the vile threats seen by The Star , which appeared on an anonymous social media app, stated: “The Gucci Gang is on top. Kippure is full of hard men. It won’t be long before Wheelan is dug up.”
The vile taunting continued with some asking, “Where is the big man now. He’s left with a hole in his chest, mad rat” as well as, “Who shot ya Wiggy.”
Another brazen social media posts states: “Who’s next — night night Squeela ye rat”.
And a threat vowing revenge for the shooting of Whelan stated: “Who am I blowing away now ‘revenge is the sweetest thing.’”
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