TWO gangland criminals ended up in a brawl at a Dublin car wash, the Herald can reveal. The windows of one car were smashed with a shovel during the fight which has sparked fears of a new feud.
A A top associate of the ‘Mr Big' of Irish crime and a feared Traveller pipe bomb maker ran into each other at a Dublin car wash last week.
The rival criminals, both aged in their 30s, traded insults at the Posh Wash in Coolock before Mr Big's pal grabbed a shovel from his car and smashed the windows of the Traveller thug’s car.
A number of punches were exchanged between the two men before the Traveller – who is facing serious charges – was forced to flee the scene.
A senior source said: “What happened here is being considered as very, very serious. These fellas are major organised criminals.”
"The Traveller has strong links to dissident Republicanism while Mr Big's associate is one of the most dangerous criminals operating in the north city," the source added.
Gardai from Coolock responded to the incident and a number of armed units rushed to the scene but no arrests were made.
The criminal in question has multiple previous convictions including one for threatening a kill a garda – a crime for which he served a prison sentence.
Meanwhile, the Traveller and his gang have been targeted in a number of garda operations and his home has been raided on an almost monthly basis by the Special Detective Unit.
A garda spokesperson told The Herald: "Gardai in Coolock are investigating an incident that took place at an industrial estate in Coolock at approximately 17.40 on Wednesday.
"A car was damaged by what is believed to be a shovel and minor injuries were accrued as the car was being damaged.
