Gangland victim Brandon Ledwidge was due in court today for possession of drugs, it has emerged.
It comes as this paper has learned that gardai now believe that Ledwidge, who was the first gangland murder victim of the year, may have been killed by a convicted robber who is also a member of the same gang he was in.
Ledwidge (23) was shot several times as he answered the door of his home on Barry Drive in Finglas, West Dublin at around 7pm on Saturday night. Now it has emerged that the suspected gunman was known to the victim - and was a member of the same Finglas-based drugs mob that he was in.
READ MORE: Fears of revenge attacks following Finglas gangland murder
Sources say the suspected gunman is also well known to gardai and has several previous convictions - including for robbery of thousands of euro.
Officers believe the young criminal carried out the shooting - which is the first gangland murder of the year, after Ledwidge had a row with a more senior gang member in recent weeks.
Sources say that row sparked the anger of senior members of the dangerous drug gang, who may have decided to take the criminal’s life as a means of sending a message.
There is also a belief that Ledwidge, who lived in close proximity to where the drugs gang operate, was claiming that he was going to set up his own operation - and that this caused further outrage.
Meanwhile it is understood that Ledwidge was in fact due to appear in court today as part of three separate charges he was facing for possession of heroin and cocaine with the intent of sale or supply.
Sources say the West Dublin mob that Ledwidge worked for is a dangerous one that has operated in the vicinity of the Barry Drive area in recent years. The gang operated in tandem with the infamous ‘Gucci Gang’ that was run by the mobster known as ‘Mr Flashy,’ but was an entirely separate entity.
One source described an area where the gang now operate as being like “a scene from The Wire,” adding that the mob practically controls an entire street in the Finglas area.
“Day and night there are people coming to get their drugs from this gang,” a source said. “They all live and work in very close proximity to one another and have totally ruined a whole street with their drug dealing.”
On Monday, a post-mortem was carried out by State Pathologist, Dr. Sally Ann Collis, which is understood to have determined that Ledwidge died as a result of several gunshot wounds.
The Garda press office said that a technical examination of the scene has since been completed and that a Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) “has been appointed to liaise with the family of the deceased.”
Gardai carried out door-to-door enquiries around the Finglas area on Monday - and are in the process of gathering as much CCTV from the area as possible.
Meanwhile, several tributes have poured out for Brandon Ledwidge on social media - including a poignant picture that was posted by his mother - which was followed by hundreds of comments by people expressing their condolences. An aunt meanwhile said that she was “broken” after her nephew’s death, adding that she considered him to be one of her closest pals.
“My nephew/brother... My forever best friend... I loved you from the first day of your life and I'll love you till the last day of my life,” she said.
And in a social media post one friend wrote: “Never thought I'd be saying this but rest in peace Brandon Ledwidge brother. “I hope u get the best bed up wherever you are just know that me and all the boys are going to miss you to a real one.”
Another said they were “f*cking sick to the core,” saying the death of Brandon was a “damn waste of life, for f*cking what.
“Come on lads, as you’s know you can’t even trust your own lads.”
The fatal shooting comes after almost 11 full months without a gangland murder in Ireland. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station on 01 666 7500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
