Gardaí suspicious of rumours that two ‘Westies’ gang leaders have been assassinated
(Login IrishHood) Forum Owner Posted Aug 24, 2005 1:00 PM
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Gardaí suspicious of rumours that two ‘Westies’ gang leaders have been assassinated in Spain
By Cormac O’Keeffe
GARDAÍ are investigating unconfirmed reports that the two leaders of a notorious Dublin gang had been killed in Spain, but senior officers stressed the reports were only rumours.The two leaders of the Westies gang, based in the Blanchardstown area of north-west Dublin, have been on the run since last summer.
Detectives and local sources in the Mulhuddart and Corduff areas of Blanchardstown suspect the rumours may be part of a ploy by the Westies to get their rivals to drop their guard.
The Westies are eager to avenge the murder of Bernard ‘Verb’ Sugg last August, a brother of one of the leaders.
The gang suspected of carrying out the murder, originally from the nearby area of Clonsilla, are under constance surveillance by local gardaí.
“It’s a rumour, but that’s exactly what it is, a rumour. It would be very convenient if both of them were dead,” said one garda source.
It’s not the first time rumours have spread about the gang leaders. Last Christmas, reports circulated that one of them had been shot, which turned out not to be the case.
One senior garda yesterday said that they were in contact with Europol to try and find out if there was any truth to the story.
One of the leaders is thought to own two pubs and a restaurant in Alicante, Spain.
Gardaí yesterday said that intelligence would suggest that the duo have been in the Alicante area.
The Westies gang are still active in west Dublin, involved in the theft of high-powered cars and drug dealing.
