Dublin gangland mayhem sparked by theft of designer watch

The incident on a northside bus route led to two rival factions taunting each other on social media and ultimately to a series of events that broke out last Sunday night.

Sources say that it was a "miracle" no-one was killed.

Tensions remain "extremely high" in Finglas this weekend, and extra armed Garda patrols have been dispatched to the area to help quell the threat of serious violence.

However, it was the robbery of the high-end watch during the assault incident on a bus a few days earlier that kicked off the latest criminal dispute in the troubled northside suburb.

"This individual is a very close associate of 'Mr Flashy' and everyone knows that they love their bling and he is no different," a local source explained.

"After the lad got the beating and the expensive watch was stolen, the crew who were involved in the incident took to social media where they taunted the other gang by showing off the watch and putting up photos of various young lads with the watch on their arms.

"They were laughing in the faces of the 'Mr Flashy' crew and they responded by going down to the Glenties estate in Finglas where one of the males who was suspected of stealing the watch lives.

"The Flashy crowd then posted videos of themselves near his house, posing with guns and demanding that the watch be returned immediately - the implication was they could shoot up the house or worse," the source added.

The watch was not returned and last Sunday night in the Dunsink Avenue area of Finglas at around 10pm, the 'Mr Flashy' gang attempted to get revenge.

Sources say that they targeted an innocent teenage boy who has links to the gang blamed for the bus incident.

"He was walking in the area with two other juvenile teens when they pulled up and tried to force him into the boot of a car.

"They were armed with a wheel brace, hammer and golf club. The young lad was saved when a woman came out of her house when she saw what was going on but she got hit with a wheel brace.

"The lad who was with the teenager they tried to put in the boot got a bang from a hammer and a juvenile female who was there also got assaulted," the source said.

But it was the original target who got the worst beating and he was set upon with the golf club and other weapons.

After the assault the teen was rushed to Children's Health Ireland Hospital at Temple Street but he has since been discharged.

However, the juvenile suffered a fractured eye socket and broken nose along with other injuries, and it is understood that he will need reconstructive surgery on his face.

It has now emerged that in the aftermath of the brutal assault at least five other criminals, including a close associate of gun victim Eric Fowler, decided to target the teen's attackers.

They went to a 'safe-house' on Ratoath Drive which has long been used by the 'Mr Flashy' gang and is understood to be owned by gangland criminal Trevor Byrne (41), who is serving lengthy sentences for separate firearms offences, armed robbery and false imprisonment.

"It was a brave or more likely stupid move for the crew to rock up without weapons because when they got there five shots were allegedly fired at them and they had to run away," the source said.

Bullet casings were later found at this scene by Gardaí.

The gangsters were then followed to the Deanstown area where it is suspected that the 'Mr Flashy' crew allegedly fired more shots in the direction of Eric Fowler's close pal's home.

No one was injured in the alleged shooting incidents.

Three separate crime scenes were sealed off by Gardaí in the Finglas area on Monday and technical examinations were still taking place at the 'Mr Flashy' safe house on Monday night.

Apart from an increase in armed detective patrols, the Armed Support Unit have had an almost constant presence in Finglas during the past week.

"There is nothing at all to suggest this will end well," a local source added.