Notorious mobster Martin ‘The Viper’ Foley was celebrating this week after becoming a ‘Daddy’ again at the ripe old age of 64.
His 38 year old wife Sonia Doyle gave birth to an eight pound baby girl on Wednesday night making Foley a proud father for the third time.
But his happiness was tinged with tragedy after his best pal and business partner died suddenly just as his wife went into labour.
Foley was congratulated and consoled by gangster friends at Cunningham’s funeral on Thursday morning in what was an emotional week for The Viper.
Sonia is Foley’s second wife and the pair have been together for 10 years having met after his first wife Pauline passed away ni 2003.
They married in a small ceremony in Puerto Rico in the Canary Islands in November 2013 and were thrilled when Sonia found out she was pregnant last year.
Friends say that Foley was thrilled with impending fatherhood despite the fact that his other two daughters are both in their 20s and he will be in his 80s when his child is still just a teenager.
The birth of a the little girl is sure to take the edge off what has been a difficult year for Foley.
He was raided by the Criminal Assets Bureau late last year after being handed a bill for euro 916,960 from them. The bill relates to the alleged under declaration of income tax from his debt collection business Viper Recovery Agency which is now defunct.
Last October Foley spoke out saying he was infuriated that his wedding ring was taken during the dawn raid on his home in relation to his CAB bill. It is understood Revenue officials also took company accounts.
The veteran gangster has proven to be something of a medical miracle after surviving five attempts on his life. He is believed to have 18 bullets lodged in his body after the attempts.
Foley has more than 40 convictions, some for assault, robbery, and possession of threatening weapons.
