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| This Dublin gun violence bears all the hallmarks of paramilitary involvement | This Dublin gun violence bears all the hallmarks of paramilitary involvement |
| (7 months later) | |
| Is Dublin in the grip of a vicious crime war? Two execution-style gangland murders in the space of a week – one at a crowded boxing event at a hotel in the Irish capital – have caused widespread shock and just weeks before a general election, political consternation. | Is Dublin in the grip of a vicious crime war? Two execution-style gangland murders in the space of a week – one at a crowded boxing event at a hotel in the Irish capital – have caused widespread shock and just weeks before a general election, political consternation. |
| Ireland’s homicide rate is broadly similar to its EU neighbours. It stands at about 1.1 per 100,000 citizens on an annual basis. This is slightly higher than the UK, with a homicide rate of 0.96 per 100,000. France is slightly higher again at 1.2 persons per 100,000. Ireland’s central statistics office states that a total of 1,068 Irish people died by homicide between 2004 and 2014. | Ireland’s homicide rate is broadly similar to its EU neighbours. It stands at about 1.1 per 100,000 citizens on an annual basis. This is slightly higher than the UK, with a homicide rate of 0.96 per 100,000. France is slightly higher again at 1.2 persons per 100,000. Ireland’s central statistics office states that a total of 1,068 Irish people died by homicide between 2004 and 2014. |
| Within that statistic, however, there is a disturbing trend. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 38% of Ireland’s homicides are gun killings. In the UK, only 7% of homicides are by firearms. Ireland’s gun killings, on a per-capita basis, are around five times higher than most member states within the EU. | Within that statistic, however, there is a disturbing trend. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 38% of Ireland’s homicides are gun killings. In the UK, only 7% of homicides are by firearms. Ireland’s gun killings, on a per-capita basis, are around five times higher than most member states within the EU. |
| In an otherwise relatively peaceful society, it appears from these figures that a violent gun culture, associated with drug trafficking, has taken hold in disadvantaged areas in a number of Ireland’s cities. | In an otherwise relatively peaceful society, it appears from these figures that a violent gun culture, associated with drug trafficking, has taken hold in disadvantaged areas in a number of Ireland’s cities. |
| Paradoxically, the problem dates back to the late 90s and the emerging peace process in Northern Ireland. Killings by paramilitary groups such as the Provisional IRA and the INLA have slowly been replaced by gang killings. The violence is cyclical. The numbers vary year on year as criminal gangs, many with links to ex-paramilitaries, are locked in a struggle for power and control over Ireland’s lucrative drugs trade. | Paradoxically, the problem dates back to the late 90s and the emerging peace process in Northern Ireland. Killings by paramilitary groups such as the Provisional IRA and the INLA have slowly been replaced by gang killings. The violence is cyclical. The numbers vary year on year as criminal gangs, many with links to ex-paramilitaries, are locked in a struggle for power and control over Ireland’s lucrative drugs trade. |
| The numbers of gang killings have peaked and dipped in these cycles of violence. Last Friday’s shooting in Dublin’s Regency Hotel was a continuation of that violence. In retaliation for David Byrne’s killing at the hotel, a group of armed individuals murdered Eddie Hutch in his family home three days later. While these brutal, but sporadic killings are not without precedent in the Republic, the latest shootings are significant for a number of reasons. | The numbers of gang killings have peaked and dipped in these cycles of violence. Last Friday’s shooting in Dublin’s Regency Hotel was a continuation of that violence. In retaliation for David Byrne’s killing at the hotel, a group of armed individuals murdered Eddie Hutch in his family home three days later. While these brutal, but sporadic killings are not without precedent in the Republic, the latest shootings are significant for a number of reasons. |
| Up to now, Irish criminal gangs have typically used relatively small-calibre handguns such as Glock automatic pistols or machine pistols in their shootings. Such weapons are normally supplied as “sweeteners” with drugs consignments. Most gangland killings are frenzied affairs, with untrained assailants who are high on drugs firing wildly and often missing their intended target. | Up to now, Irish criminal gangs have typically used relatively small-calibre handguns such as Glock automatic pistols or machine pistols in their shootings. Such weapons are normally supplied as “sweeteners” with drugs consignments. Most gangland killings are frenzied affairs, with untrained assailants who are high on drugs firing wildly and often missing their intended target. |
| The Regency Hotel shooting was a very different affair. As the shocking camera phone and CCTV footage shows, the killers, dressed in police uniforms, moved unhurriedly and with confidence throughout the incident. They singled out their victim and murdered him execution-style as he lay on the ground. Unlike other gang killings, the firing was controlled with only a small number of rounds used. | The Regency Hotel shooting was a very different affair. As the shocking camera phone and CCTV footage shows, the killers, dressed in police uniforms, moved unhurriedly and with confidence throughout the incident. They singled out their victim and murdered him execution-style as he lay on the ground. Unlike other gang killings, the firing was controlled with only a small number of rounds used. |
| Up to now, Irish criminal gangs have typically used small caliber handguns such as Glock automatic pistols | Up to now, Irish criminal gangs have typically used small caliber handguns such as Glock automatic pistols |
| The Regency images make clear that the gunmen were carrying high-velocity Kalashnikov AKM assault rifles. The remarkably clear images of the weapon that have appeared bear a strong resemblance to Romanian manufactured PM-63 AKM assault rifles. This is especially significant as they were of a type supplied in large numbers to the Provisional IRA at the height of the troubles. Claims by the Continuity IRA of involvement in the attacks has complicated matters, although these claims are being treated with scepticism by senior police officers who believe the current spate of violence is purely gang-related. However, in the twilight world of illegal drugs and firearms trafficking, organised crime and terrorism exist in the same continuum. | The Regency images make clear that the gunmen were carrying high-velocity Kalashnikov AKM assault rifles. The remarkably clear images of the weapon that have appeared bear a strong resemblance to Romanian manufactured PM-63 AKM assault rifles. This is especially significant as they were of a type supplied in large numbers to the Provisional IRA at the height of the troubles. Claims by the Continuity IRA of involvement in the attacks has complicated matters, although these claims are being treated with scepticism by senior police officers who believe the current spate of violence is purely gang-related. However, in the twilight world of illegal drugs and firearms trafficking, organised crime and terrorism exist in the same continuum. |
| Many former paramilitaries have failed to reintegrate into Irish society, post peace process, immersing themselves instead in organised crime. Irish intelligence have observed former subversives subcontract their bomb-making and firearms expertise to criminal gangs. Others have taken control of racketeering and smuggling operations. Former paramilitaries often mobilise political rhetoric to justify or obscure criminal intent. In Ireland it is impossible to make an absolute distinction between organised crime and terrorism. Irrespective of who was ultimately responsible, Friday’s attack bore the hallmarks of that nexus in terms of weaponry and execution. | Many former paramilitaries have failed to reintegrate into Irish society, post peace process, immersing themselves instead in organised crime. Irish intelligence have observed former subversives subcontract their bomb-making and firearms expertise to criminal gangs. Others have taken control of racketeering and smuggling operations. Former paramilitaries often mobilise political rhetoric to justify or obscure criminal intent. In Ireland it is impossible to make an absolute distinction between organised crime and terrorism. Irrespective of who was ultimately responsible, Friday’s attack bore the hallmarks of that nexus in terms of weaponry and execution. |
| For the Irish public and the Irish security services, the choreography of the murder operation and the weapons used in the attack carry a strong echo of the type of paramilitary-style killings witnessed during the troubles. The use of police uniforms during the attack is a new development and will increase tensions between Ireland’s unarmed police force – An Garda Síochána – and paranoid drug gangs. | For the Irish public and the Irish security services, the choreography of the murder operation and the weapons used in the attack carry a strong echo of the type of paramilitary-style killings witnessed during the troubles. The use of police uniforms during the attack is a new development and will increase tensions between Ireland’s unarmed police force – An Garda Síochána – and paranoid drug gangs. |
| That such weapons have resurfaced in Ireland, in such a dramatic manner and with such international attention, has caused great embarrassment and discomfort to the Irish government. Just weeks ahead of a general election, it has placed serious crime at the top of the political agenda. | That such weapons have resurfaced in Ireland, in such a dramatic manner and with such international attention, has caused great embarrassment and discomfort to the Irish government. Just weeks ahead of a general election, it has placed serious crime at the top of the political agenda. |
| It should also become part of a wider debate about the hollowing out of Ireland’s public services, including policing, during the financial crash. As the international poster-child for austerity, Ireland is presented as a success story in terms of economic recovery and a model for other nations facing dramatically reduced spending on public services. | It should also become part of a wider debate about the hollowing out of Ireland’s public services, including policing, during the financial crash. As the international poster-child for austerity, Ireland is presented as a success story in terms of economic recovery and a model for other nations facing dramatically reduced spending on public services. |
| But domestically, Ireland’s public services have been significantly eroded with particularly damaging consequences for health, education and policing. It is disturbing that in the immediate wake of the spike in gang violence, all of the representative associations within the Irish police have stated, unanimously, that they do not have the personnel, training or equipment to meet the emerging threat posed by the country’s gun culture. | But domestically, Ireland’s public services have been significantly eroded with particularly damaging consequences for health, education and policing. It is disturbing that in the immediate wake of the spike in gang violence, all of the representative associations within the Irish police have stated, unanimously, that they do not have the personnel, training or equipment to meet the emerging threat posed by the country’s gun culture. |
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