Dealer dead after he was accidentally shot by gun
ACCIDENT: Ned Hamilton died at a party in Naas
THIS IS the notorious drug dealer who was killed yesterday after apparently being accidentally shot with a shotgun at a house party in Co. Kildare. Ned Hamilton (33), was rushed to Naas General Hospital with serious gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead shortly after 6am yesterday morning.
Gardai are investigating the nature of the shooting, which is believed to have taken place during a boozy party in his home at Kilmeague, near Naas.
Treated
It is understood that a legallyheld shotgun was being passed around at the party before it went off, killing Hamilton and injuring another man. Last night, the second man, a 50-year-old who is a close friend of Hamilton's, was being treated for gunshot wounds to the hand. Hamilton, who had been in a longterm relationship, was well-known to gardai and had convictions for burglary, assault and drugs. He had links to senior members of a drugs gang lead by Kildare basedgodfather Troy Jordan.
A source has revealed that Hamilton was suspected of involvement in the double murder of Andy Barry and Zilvinas Varnauskas in March. Mobster Barry, a step-nephew of Troy Jordan, was executed in his house in Kilcock, Co. Kildare along with Varnauskas, by a masked gunman. Hamilton, who did some work for a roadmarking company, was never charged in connection with the incident.
A source said: "He was heavily involved in the drugs trade and collected cash for a number of drug dealers, including Barry. However, after Barry was killed Hamilton was named as a potential suspect."
Hamilton, originally from Carragh in Co. Kildare, had been involved in the drugs trade for more than a decade and was a former associate of trafficker Liam Judge.
A source has claimed Hamilton was once beaten to "within an inch" of his life by Judge - who acted as bagman for John Gilligan's drug gang - over a missing drug shipment. The bungalow where he was shot is just a short drive away along a quiet country back road from the village of Kilmeague. It is part of a complex of former farmhouses that are now inhabited by members of his extended family.
Terror
Neighbours refused to speak about those caught up in the early morning shooting and at one stage a young man threatened a press photographer. However, villagers in Kilmeague spoke carefully about the deceased man, who was described as a "local terror".
"He was caught up in a feud with the Judges and gravestones were even smashed in a local cemetery. It was nasty stuff. He was a header, you crossed the road to avoid him," one local said.
Oh shit! Intolerant maybe. I gotta see this movie. Brendon Gleeson cracks me up in that flick 'THe General'.