Members of Brian “King Ratt” Rattigan’s mob have emerged as suspects in a failed gangland hit yesterday after a convicted drug dealer was shot in an underground car park, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
But cops probing the attempted assassination of Gary “The Canary” Carey also have not ruled out the major Dublin drug dealing group known as “The Family”. A major investigation is under way after Carey was blasted at least five times – including in the chest, arm and leg – at the Hilton Hotel on Dublin’s South Circular Road after 11.30am yesterday.
The 41-year-old had just left the gym in the hotel when he was ambushed and chased through its underground car park by at least two men until he was shot down. Gardai and emergency services arrived within minutes but the Irish Mirror can reveal that cops did not initially recognise Carey, as he was bald until he recently got a hair transplant in Turkey.
Read more: CAB to serve court papers on Daniel Kinahan by registered post after discovering addresses
Although the 41-year-old was blasted a number of times, he was able to speak at the scene. But last night he was critically ill in hospital after losing a huge amount of blood.
A major line of inquiry is that Carey was targeted by associates of Rattigan. His pals previously targeted him after falling out some years ago but his gang are now being probed for this hit.
Rattigan was released from prison last year following an 18-year stint for killing fallen Kinahan cartel enforcer “Fat Freddie” Thompson’s close pal Declan Gavin in 2001. But sources say he never gave up his drug pushing business, continuing to run it from behind bars before assuming full control upon his release from jail.
Another theory gardai are actively investigating is that Carey may have been targeted over a personal dispute with “The Family”. The major heroin suppliers have also previously targeted yesterday’s gun victim.
A source said: “What is clear is that it was organised and executed in gangland style. There are at least two gangs being looked at in relation to the hit. The individual who was shot is in bad shape, he lost a lot of blood. It’s the second time he has been shot within a couple of months too, and he was very lucky to survive the last one.”
A major probe is under way as detectives work to unravel the circumstances of the shooting. They have established that a silver Audi is suspected of having been used as a getaway vehicle by the hit team.
And they were last night checking if the vehicle was left in the car park for some time prior to the attempted murder.
Yesterday’s shooting was the third time the victim has been targeted recently. In November, Carey was shot at up to 10 times as he sat in a car in Ballyfermot Crescent. In March 2021, another hit-team also tried to kill him.
Another source said: “There has been a series of incidents which have led back to different criminal groups previously. There’s no doubt that he was aware he was under major threat.”
Carey had only returned to Ireland in recent weeks following a trip away. He has been arrested by gardai a number of times previously but was only imprisoned once for 15 months in 2002 when he pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Court to drug dealing.
His brother was Darren Carey, 20, who was killed along the Grand Canal in Co Kildare 22 years ago along with Patrick Murray, 19. The chief suspect for that killing was the brute Mark “Guinea Pig” Desmond, 41, who himself was murdered in Lucan, Dublin in December 2016.
Last night, local Cllr Daithi Doolan slammed the thugs responsible for yesterday’s attack. He said: “It was totally reckless and shows that these people will stop at nothing to protect their interests. It puts many lives at risk.
“Tourists and school children were using the car park at this time.
“I would appeal to the Minister for Justice to wake up and rise to the challenge of gun crime in the capital.
“Particularly in this part of Dublin. We have long demanded extra gardai and extra resources to tackle the consequences of criminal gangs.”
Yesterday, the Garda Technical Bureau examined the scene for evidence as investigators took statements from witnesses while also reviewing CCTV footage in the area. A spokesman said: “The scene is currently preserved and a technical examination is to be conducted. “No arrests have been made at this time. Investigations are ongoing. “An incident room has been established at Kilmainham Garda station.
“Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage [including dash-cam] and were travelling on the South Circular Road in the Kilmainham area on the morning of Friday, June 24, are asked to make this footage available to gardai.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kilmainham Garda station on 01 666 9700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
Read next:
- Gang arrested after 'liquid cocaine' found in champagne bottles and millions worth of drugs and cash seized
- Patrick Kriegel 'couldn't bare pain' of losing Ana, wife tells funeral
Aggressive teens terrorise Dublin residents leaving mum with injured hand
Gardai appeal for witnesses after serious two car crash in Swords
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox
