The gang behind the gun attack on a key ally of mob boss Mr Flashy are already planning another bid on his life, it is feared.
Sources have told The Star that gardai now believe associates of slain rival James ‘Wheela’ Whelan were behind Monday’s murder bid in north Dublin.
“They will regroup and in a few weeks or months will go after him again,” one source said last night.
“They want him and Flashy dead. They will keep going until that happens.”
Sources say gardai are now satisfied Monday’s attack in Finglas — in which their victim was shot in the hand and buttocks after he was ambushed in a taxi — was linked to the murder of Whelan earlier this year.
Whelan, 29, was shot dead by an associate of Flashy — who runs one of the most dangerous drugs gangs in Dublin — in Finglas in April.
Whelan, who was a former associate of Flashy but later became involved in a vicious feud with his drugs gang, 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 was 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.
Sources told The Star that Whelan was hit with a ‘lucky’ shot — and almost escaped his killer.
Since then, allies of Whelan have been gunning for Flashy and his associates.
In June, the gang boss and the victim of this week’s shooting were targeted in another ambush in Finglas, but both survived.
Now they have escaped a second hit — but investigators believe they may not be so lucky in future.
In an appeal following Monday’s shooting in the Cardiffsbridge Road area at 9pm, gardai called on anyone with information to come forward and call Finglas Garda Station on 01 666 7500.
Meanwhile, gardai are still investigating three other shootings on the same night — in which one man was killed.
Gardai believe the murder of Cormac Berkeley, 37, in the Ronanstown area of west Dublin was ordered by a gangster from the south inner city.
That man, who has a powerbase in Crumlin, tried to murder Berkeley last year — but gardai foiled him.
And, in a separate investigation, gardai believe gangsters behind the hit in Co Carlow on convicted criminal James ‘Nellie’ Walsh flew in from Spain to organise it.
Sources say a west Dublin gang is in the frame for the hit on Walsh, 36, who escaped uninjured.
He was previously injured in a shooting in Tallaght in October.
Gardai are also investigating a shooting incident in Inchicore, south Dublin on Monday, in which no-one was injured.
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