The once lush pad that belonged to exiled Kinahan cartel member Liam Byrne but was snatched off him by the Criminal Assets Bureau went up in flames last night, Dublin Live can exclusively reveal.
Thugs reversed a jeep through the front door of the gangland king's €320,000 palace and petrol bombed it TWICE in a terrifying act of criminality that has left one new resident thinking about upping sticks and leaving the area entirely.
The paranoid drug lord and head of the feared Byrne Organised Crime Group has been on the run from Ireland for years and is a top target for the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
The 39-year-old is constantly moving between safe houses in the UK over fears he will be arrested and refuses to come home for the same reason - and because of the possible threat hanging over his life if he was to return to the place he once ruled.
Over a year ago, CAB seized the house at Grange View in Clondalkin but not before gangsters - believed to be associated with the Kinahan Cartel and Byrne - tore the place apart just hours before it went into CAB's control.
A source previously told Dublin Live that the reasoning behind this act of vandalism was because they were unable to get the property back.
They said: "They destroyed the place because there was nothing they could do to save it.
"Liam hadn't lived there for years but extended family members were in the house and had done it up really nice, lovely carpet inside, it was immaculate.
"But once the decision was made, associates of Byrne's came in and tore it apart inside. Started smashing windows, water pipes, banisters and doors with a hammer and ripped apart the lovely interior too.
"This was about two hours before CAB were supposed to take it over at midnight. The council came out the next day to value it but it was a different property entirely and was all boarded up."
The house had remained vacant and untouched since CAB moved in - that was until the early hours of Wednesday morning.
One resident, who has lived there their whole life, told Dublin Live that they immediately left the area with their little baby and partner and are staying elsewhere for the next few days, such was the terror of last night's arson attack.
They said: "I live about 30 metres away from the house. My partner and I were in the sitting room when we heard commotion outside.
"Next thing I could hear someone screaming 'get out of the house'. I immediately called the Gardai and they were there literally within seconds.
"I went outside and saw the place in flames with the jeep jutting out of the front door. My immediate reaction was 'I'm not staying here with my baby tonight' and we left.
"If the place had exploded, we would have been in the firing line and god knows what would have happened to the residents either side of the house."
They added: "One person has recently just bought and moved into the area but they are already considering leaving again after last night."
A source told Dublin Live that the blaze was carried out quickly and effectively.
They said: "There were two vehicles, the one used as the battering ram and the getaway vehicle.
"The jeep was reversed straight into the front of the house and then subsequently, two petrol bombs were thrown inside which set the place alight.
"A white car was then spotted leaving the scene as the flames engulfed the area which is full of young families with little kids."
A Garda spokeswoman confirmed to Dublin Live that thankfully nobody was injured as a result of the blaze.
She said: "Gardaí are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire which occurred in Grange View Road, Clondalkin shortly after midnight, 12 August."
She added: "There were no injuries during the incident and no one has been arrested at this time."
