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Gardai have uncovered a chilling Kinahan Cartel plan to assassinate a target as he collected his young child from school.
The Sunday World understands that the Hutch associate was being watched as he routinely brought his child to school over the past week and established a routine to wait for his son along with other parents outside the gates.
It is understood that he was being stalked by a cartel spotter on a motorbike for a number of days as he delivered and collected the child.
Gardaí believe the motorcyclist may have been caught on CCTV following the Hutch-linked criminal as he went to the school.
Gardaí issued the man with a GIM form to warn him that his life was in danger and believe that they have now put paid to the immediate plans to kill him.
A source said: “This is one of the sickest plans we have seen to date.
“This hit was being planned with absolutely no regard for other parents and all the children that would have been in the vicinity.
“Absolutely anyone could have been killed had this been attempted.
“It just shows the lengths that these people are willing to go to get their targets.”
The plan was foiled and the Kinahan associate was arrested by Gardaí.
It is just the latest blow for the cartel, who are effectively under siege from Gardaí.
In recent months, large quantities of drugs, weapons and cash have all been seized during successful raids by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
Serious charges have also been brought against a number of important players in the Kinahan gang, with others being forced to flee the country to avoid Garda attention.