Pals of slain criminal James Whelan are planning to kill the gangster they blame for the murder – but only after his funeral, it’s emerged.
Sources revealed that gardai probing last Sunday’s shooting in North Dublin fear tensions are at boiling point among his associates – and they are determined to seek revenge.
They have identified the thug known as Mr Flashy as being behind the murder of the 29-year-old in Finglas, even though gardai do not suspect he fired the fatal shot. And it’s understood investigators now believe the mob boss cannot outrun Whelan’s pals.
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A source added: “It is hard to see how Flashy can survive this.”
And he added that gardai do not believe the gang will strike until dad-of- one Whelan’s funeral takes place.
The remains of the criminal – who was shot in the back as he ran for his life after trying to attack associates of Flashy at 4.30am last Sunday – have not been released to his family yet and it could be next week before he is laid to rest. But a source said last night: “Tensions are very high in Finglas at the minute. Whelan’s associates are out for blood. There is no doubt they will go after Flashy now and he will be lucky to escape with his life.
“But we don’t believe there will be any action until after the funeral and his body hasn’t even been released yet.
“But they will definitely go after Flashy. He is in serious bother now.” Meanwhile, sources also say that criminals from all over Dublin have been seen paying their respects at a makeshift memorial to Whelan at the scene of his murder in the Deanstown Avenue area of Finglas.
It’s understood an associate of Kinahan gang boss Liam Byrne was spotted in the area in recent days, as well as criminals from Crumlin.
A killer who is closely associated with convicted Kinahan cartel murderer Freddie Thompson was also seen at the memorial.
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