Gangland killer 'Cotton Eye' Joe Delaney's son pays tribute to his nephew James Whelan

Scott Delaney, who is also known as Scott Knight, is the son of 'Cotton Eye' Joe Delaney - a notorious gang boss currently serving a life sentence for murder.

This week, Scott posted on his Facebook account of his devastation following his nephew’s death.

Whelan (27) was found at Deanstown Avenue in Finglas with a gunshot wound, in a killing being blamed on the criminal gang run by ‘Mr Flashy.’

Scott, who served time in prison for his part in the murder of Mark Dwyer over a stash of ecstasy, spoke his shock at this week’s gangland murder.

“My nephew James Whelan was shot dead in Finglas last night, he lost his life, I’m absolutely gutted after hearing it, my beautiful sister and the family are absolutely devastated.”

“God bless her and the family, I’m devastated myself with hearing such terrible bad news, God give us strength in this devastating terrible time, I’m Gutted over his passing, rest in peace.”

In further heartfelt comments he admitted his nephew’s killing had hit him much harder than he would have expected.

While most of the replies are sympathetic to the family, one person taunted: “Live by the gun, die by the gun, yup Flashy."

Scott Delaney is the son of ‘Cotton Eye’ Joe Delaney - the first gangland killer to be jailed for murder in Ireland in a landmark case.

Cotton Eye has since been freed from prison as revealed by the Sunday in December 2019 when on day release from Shelton Abbey open prison in Wicklow.

His murder victim was tied to a chair and then beaten with iron bars for several hours after 40,000 ecstasy tablets had been stolen.

Cotton-Eye decided that Mark Dwyer had been the culprit and ordered the gangster to be kidnapped and brought to him.

Scott had tried to warn his pal Dwyer but was eventually forced by his father to set up the abduction.

Later Cotton-Eye decided to end the ordeal and Dwyer was brought to Scribblestown Lane where he killed him with a shotgun blast to his head.

He then left his son Scott beaten up and unconscious beside the body in bid to throw an investigation off the scent.

Scott Delaney was later convicted of murder but this was quashed on appeal and he was sentenced to five years on a new charge of accessory to murder.