Lee Byrne pays tribute to slain uncle David on sixth anniversary of Regency Hotel murder

Kinahan enforcer Byrne was gunned down by members of the Hutch gang at a boxing weigh-in on February 5, 2016, which sparked a bloody gang war that claimed 18 lives.

Posting a message on social media on the anniversary of his uncle’s death, Lee Byrne wrote: “6 years later we know the drill. Watch me go boy this one’s for you.”

He adds, “I love you uncle”, alongside a red heart emoji.

Lee who is dating the well-known influencer, Daisey O’Donnell has been pictured in various social media posts while flashing his wealth and showing off expensive watches, designer gear, and jetting off on luxury holidays.

Neither of them have any involvement in crime although gardaí continue to investigate Lee’s father Liam.

After his brother David was killed at the Regency Hotel, Liam fled Ireland as the Garda Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) moved in and seized millions of euro worth of his wealth in 2019.

The CAB has also seized dozens of high-powered vehicles, jewellery, bank accounts and Byrne's Raleigh Square home in Crumlin, which was apparently fitted with a panic room and Jacuzzi.

He is suspected to be running the notorious Kinahan cartel from his bolthole in the UK when he became Daniel Kinahan's right-hand man after his brother-in-law Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh was jailed in 2019 for possession of a stun gun.

Gardai are reportedly still hunting Byrne, and are still investigating the alleged activities of the most senior members of the Kinahan cartel after jailing many of their lieutenants in recent years.

Those jailed includes Byrne's cousin 'Fat' Freddie Thompson, who is serving life for helping to carry out the gangland murder of David 'Daithi' Douglas in inner Dublin in 2016.

Gardaí have intervened in over 70 organised crime related real and imminent “threat to life” incidents since the 2016 Regency hotel slaying of David Byrne.

In December of last year, Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Driscoll told RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland how gardai had intervened in about 77 incidents since the Regency hotel incident.

“Our main focus throughout 2021 has been dealing with the threat to life aspect of organised crime where criminals attempt to murder people who get in the way of their business,” he said.

"This year fortunately we’ve only had to intervene on two occasions where there was a real and imminent threat to life.”

Gardai believe that cartel boss Daniel Kinahan was the target of the attack at the Regency that was part of an ongoing feud between the Hutch crime gang led by Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch and the Kinahan cartel.

The Hutch-Kinahan feud began in 2015 when The Monk’s nephew Gary Hutch was shot dead in Marbella, Spain.

The Monk is currently in prison awaiting trial for the murder at the Regency.

Despite being named in the high court as a key figure in global organised crime, Daniel Kinahan has escaped arrest.

Discussing the Gardai’s pursuit of Kinahan, John O’Driscoll said the gardai will “continue to pursue [him]” until they achieve prosecution.

“We continue to target the main people in all organised crime groups.”

Daniel currently resides in Dubai, where there is no extradition treaty in place with Ireland.

More than 50 members of the crime gang are currently behind bars.

A total of 13 key associates of the gang including Trevor Byrne, Peader Keating, Declan ‘Mr Nobody’ Brady and Caolan Smyth were among those jailed last year.