Machete feud mob linked to petrol bomb attack on innocent woman’s home

Sources say there have been between 50 and 80 incidents linked to the feud, including the machete attack on a 17-year-old with links to veteran criminal John Gilligan.

Gardai have already arrested a number of people in relation to various incidents with some facing serious charges, including firearms charges.

Sources say more arrests are expected as part of an operation targeting the feuding gangs.

The feud mainly involves young criminals in their teens and early twenties based in Clondalkin, Ronanstown and Lucan in west Dublin.

While an associate of John Gilligan was attacked as part of the feud, Gilligan, who is based in Spain, is not involved.

His young associate suffered severe injuries to his leg in the machete attack.

Images of the attack have been shared on social media.

Sources say associates of the machete victim are suspected of carrying out an arson attack in Lucan last month on an innocent woman’s home.

The woman could have died in the incident when a teenager smashed a window and threw a petrol bomb into her home while she was inside.

Both sides of the feud have been involved in numerous incidents including assaults, gun attacks and arson attacks.

Gardai from the Dublin Crime Response Team have been drafted into assist local gardai in policing the feud.

Gardai carried out searches in the Ronanstown and Clondalkin areas this week where drugs, cash and mobile phones were seized.

They also arrested a man in relation to arson and criminal damage at Greenfort Park in Clondalkin on May 9, but he was later released without charge while a file is prepared for the DPP.

There have been dozens of other incidents linked to the feud and some of the participants are as young as 15.

The incidents include arson attacks to homes and cars as well as a number of serious assaults including stabbings, firearms incidents and attacks involving pipe bombs.

The feud has spilled over into prisons with one criminal having to be moved from one Dublin jail to another because of the threat against him. Since being jailed, a property linked to him has been burnt to the ground by his rivals.

This criminal, who has more than 70 previous convictions, is serving a significant jail sentence for kidnapping and torturing a man on behalf of ‘The Family’ drugs trafficking gang.