Gun victim James Whelan's pals vow to get revenge as Mr Flashy associate blamed for death

It is understood that the murder suspect who is aged in his early 20s is in hiding after detectives searched a property connected to him following the murder.

Tensions remain high in the north Dublin suburb of Finglas after Whelan (29) was shot dead in the Deanstown Avenue area at around 4.30am on Sunday.

Taunting from both of the rival criminal factions continued on social media yesterday with friends of Whelan vowing to avenge the murder of “the boss” as they described him before stating: “We will finish this for you bro once and for all.”

The other faction responded by posting a video online in which they uploaded photos of the murder victim before writing: “What did them bullets taste like, James?”

A source last night said: “It has always been said that the level of hatred in this feud has been off the charts and there can be no doubt that this vicious goading and threats on social media proves that.”

Drug dealer Whelan was once a key member of the Mr Flashy crime network but in recent times he had been a senior player in a gang of young dealers who have been using electric bikes and electric scooters to deal crack cocaine and cannabis in the northside suburb.

This brought him into direct confrontation with Mr Flashy (27) and his gang, and Whelan had been subjected to threats and taunts on social media in the months before he was murdered after a number of escalating violent feud incidents in Finglas.

“What his associates are claiming is that Whelan and at least one other criminal were in the Deanstown area on Sunday morning to shoot up a house or worse,” a local source said.

“But they were spotted by Mr Flashy’s close younger associate on a CCTV system and he fired a number of shots at them indiscriminately and at least one of these fatally hit Whelan in the chest.

“There is also talk that Whelan returned fire in the course of this incident,” the source added.

The scene of the murder remained sealed off yesterday as gardaí conducted more examinations. No arrests have yet been made.

Sources said Whelan was making an “absolute fortune” from drug dealing in recent times and had “put a six-figure” bounty on the head of his one-time friend but now hated enemy Mr Flashy.

It is believed two gun attacks on properties in the area within 24 hours over the weekend are also linked to the dispute.

On Friday night an innocent relative of Whelan had shots fired at their home.