The Irishman shot in a luxury Spanish sun resort is a key ally of a notorious Dublin gangster, it has emerged.
Sources have told Mirror that the victim – shot in the side in an upmarket area of Marbella on Tuesday – is regarded as a close friend of mob boss Mr Flashy.
“They are very close, he is one of his best friends,” a source said last night.
And we have also learned that the 24-year-old, from the Finglas area of Dublin where Mr Flashy runs his drugs and crime empire, is refusing to cooperate with Spanish police investigating the attack in which he was shot once in the side.
A Spanish police spokesman told The Mirror last night: “The investigation into the shooting is still open, we can't provide any information but I will tell you that the victim is not cooperating.
“The person involved is a 24-year-old Irish man… who was shot in the side.”
The victim was lucky to survive when he was shot close to a luxury golf course on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident happened in an area known as Turtle Lake above Aloha Golf Course.
The small and picturesque lake, hidden away in the northern part of the upmarket residential area of Nueva Andalucia a short drive from Marbella town centre and glitzy Puerto Banus, is a popular day trip destination for local schools.
The victim managed to make his own way to hospital after the shooting and was still recovering last night.
An elite anti-gang police unit called UDYCO is investigating the attack – which is an indication that officers suspect it is linked to gangland.
The victim’s identity has been shrouded in mystery – but The Star/Mirror has confirmed he is from Finglas and is a close pal and confidante of Mr Flashy.
Flashy is a major crime boss in Dublin and was once linked to the drugs cartel run by Daniel Kinahan, 45, although that outfit later turned on the young criminal and sent a gunman to murder him last year – in a hit that was foiled by elite gardai from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
Sources say gardai are aware that Flashy’s pal was shot in Spain – but they do not suspect it is connected to any criminality in Dublin.
The Flashy mob has been involved in at least two gang feuds that have seen six men killed in recent years.
In April, the Flashy gang shot dead the mobster’s enemy James Whelan, 29, in Finglas and there were also five murders connected to his feud with other mobsters in Coolock, north Dublin.
Flashy himself survived a revenge hit when he was shot at as he and an associate sat in the back of ataxinin Finglas in June.
It’s understood the associate who was with Flashy in the taxi when it was targeted in Finglas is the chief suspect for the Whelan gun murder – and detectives believe the attack was revenge for that killing.
Whelan, 29, was gunned down in Finglas at the start of April - and had been feuding with Flashy for months beforehand.
He was shot after he petrol bombed a property connected to his enemy in Finglas early in the morning of April 3.
Whelan carried out that attack in revenge for a house linked to an associate of his being shot up hours earlier.
Sources say Whelan was seen by Flashy’s men when he carried out the petrol bomb attack and at least one of them chased him.
He ran for his life but a key ally of Flashy pulled out a gun and fired a single shot at Whelan – hitting him in the back.
He was mortally wounded and died at the scene, despite the initial efforts of bystanders and then paramedics to save him.
Sources told The Star that Whelan was hit with a lucky shot – and almost escaped his killer.
Tensions have been high between both gangs since – with Whelan’s buddies vowing revenge.
Flashy has been so worried about an attack that he has employed one of his men to act as lookout at the door of his Finglas home – in case his enemies come for him.
Flashy is a major dealer of cannabis and cocaine in central Dublin – and associated of Whelan are intent on taking over his empire.
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