A large area of a busy north Dublin housing estate has been sealed off by gardaí following the shooting dead of one of the capital’s most significant gangland criminals.
Michael ‘Micka’ Kelly (30) died in a gun attack at lunchtime at Marrsfield Avenue on the Clongriffin estate, near Donaghmede.
Gardaí have sealed off the area and a murder investigation has commenced from nearby Coolock Garda station.
A Toyota Avensis believed to have been used in the attack was found abandoned near Donaghmede shopping centre.
Kelly was originally from Kilbarrack but had a number of recent addresses, including one in Co Meath.
He has emerged as one of Dublin’s most significant drug dealers and gang leaders in recent years and was suspected of ordering a number of gangland murders.
While well-known to all the specialised units combating drug dealing and organised crime, he had no major convictions.
However, he was known to have accumulated considerable wealth from drug dealing in recent years and had been targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau. He recently had a house and two vehicles confiscated by the bureau.
The motive for his murder is unclear but Garda sources said the north Dublin drugs gang he led has been feuding for years with other gangs based on the north side as well as criminals from west Dublin.