Martin ‘The Viper’ Foley hospitalised after row in jewellers

Veteran criminal Martin Foley was in hospital on Monday afternoon after requiring medical attention while under arrest.

The 64-year-old Dubliner and one-time member of the crime gang headed by Martin Cahill, also known as The General, was arrested on Monday in the Ilac shopping centre in the north inner city.

Foley was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment of the owner of the shop and his wife.

Along with another man in his 30s, Foley is believed to have become involved in an altercation with staff at a jewellers’ before being overpowered by a number of security staff.

He remained at the scene until gardaí arrived, at which time he was arrested and taken into custody.

Foley and his associate were questioned at Store Street Garda station, where they remained overnight.

Foley became unwell on Tuesday morning and was taken to the Mater Hospital.

Precautionary transfer

Garda sources said his transfer to the hospital was precautionary, and that his life was not under any threat.

It is believed he had given the jewellers an item to sell, but a dispute emerged when the item was stolen from the shop.

He called to the premises with his associate, and after a heated exchanged with staff was subdued by security personnel from other shops in the centre.

He was due to be taken back into Garda custody when he was discharged from hospital.

Foley, a father of three known as The Viper, has survived five attempts on his life and has been wounded a total of 14 times.

Crumlin shooting

The most recent effort to kill him was in January 2008 when he was shot and wounded outside a gym in Crumlin, Dublin.

Foley married again last year and became a father in January. His first wife died in 2003.

In recent years he had run a debt collection business which has since ceased trading.

He has been served with a near €1 million demand for unpaid taxes from Revenue.

From Crumlin, he has over 40 convictions, and in 1984 was kidnapped by the Provisional IRA.

He was freed after a shoot-out between the paramilitaries and gardaí in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.