Mr Big
GARDAI investigating a stab attack on Vinnie Ryan months before his death arrested the gang boss known as Mr Big in relation to the incident.
Ryan, who was shot dead in Finglas in north Dublin in February, suffered serious injuries when he was stabbed near the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin’s city centre last October.
The Sunday World has learned that the north Dublin gang boss known as Mr Big was arrested in relation to the incident. He was later released without charge.
Mr Big had been in a long-running feud with dissident republican associates of Vinnie Ryan and his gang are believed to have been behind the murder of his brother Alan, who was shot dead in Clongriffin in 2012.
Vinnie Ryan
Gardaí spoke to Mr Big after Vinnie Ryan’s murder, but he has an alibi for the time of the shooting and he was not arrested in relation to that investigation.
Gardaí had warned Ryan of an active threat on his life emanating from Mr Big’s gang on a continuous basis since his release from prison in 2013.
Gardaí suspect criminals with links to different gangs were involved in the murder.
They have arrested several people in connection to the shooting, including a north Dublin criminal who had links to slain gang boss Eamon ‘the Don’ Dunne and a Ballyfermot criminal who has links to Tallaght mobster Paul Rice.
A car belonging to a north Dublin criminal linked with the New INLA also formed part of the murder inquiry, but he was not arrested in relation to it.
Ryan had been a member of the New IRA, but his family said he didn’t report to them after he was released from Portlaoise Prison in October 2013, following his acquittal on firearms charges related to the murder of Micka ‘the Panda’ Kelly.
While all those arrested in relation to Ryan’s murder were released without charge, Gardaí are hopeful charges will be brought. However, what is less likely is that those who ordered the murder will be brought to justice.
An associate of Mr Big posted comments online celebrating the shooting of Ryan hours before he was officially declared dead. He later deleted the comments.
Others have taunted the Ryan family in a series of different posts.
There had also been reports that gang members were seen near Vinnie and Alan’s grave in Fingal cemetery and even threatened to dig up his body.