Criminal group: We are ready to kill RIRA ‘pirates’
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THIS is the latest show of strength by an outfit claiming to be a nationwide coalition of gangsters.
The so-called United Criminal Alliance (UCA) was set up three years ago to counter extortion demands on gangsters by the Real IRA.
Here, it displays what appear to be four firearms — and the group has again said that it will protect its members.
The gang, set up in Dublin in late 2010, claims to have established networks as far away as Sligo.
Revolver
And the UCA, which has claimed responsibility for several murders in Dublin, has also vowed in an exclusive statement to The Star that it has the means to defend its pals.
Five masked members of the outfit posed with what appear to be a sawn-off shotgun, two semi-automatic pistols and a revolver — as well as more than a dozen shotgun cartridges.
There is no way of knowing if the weapons are real or replicas.
A UCA member told The Star: “If there is any Real IRA aggression against UCA members, we will not simply be bystanders.
“With regard to pirate acts by the Real IRA members on criminals, we will be forced on our part to take measures we consider necessary and adequate in order to protect our rights.
“We have everything necessary to do so.”
Just last month, the UCA claimed responsibility for two murders — but angrily denied desecrating the grave of slain Real IRA chief Alan Ryan (32).
The group claimed the murders of Alan Desmond and Karl Wynne.
The body of criminal Desmond (38) was found in a field at Killinarden Hill in Tallaght, south Dublin, on May 18 this year.
He had been shot in the head in a gangland-style execution.
Stash
Desmond went on the run after a weapons stash was found close to his home in Kilclare Avenue, Tallaght, at the end of April.
Officers recovered three rifles, a handgun, two sawn-off shotguns and a large amount of ammunition.
Desmond, who had a previous firearms conviction, was the subject of a Garda manhunt over the find.
Gardai believe he was killed shortly after he went on the run.
Then, on May 30 this year, notorious criminal Wynne (45) was gunned down as he stood outside a shop at Mountain Park Road in Tallaght.
He suffered serious head injuries and died from his wounds on July 19.
The UCA, previously known as the Criminal Action Force (CAF), said both men were killed because they were seen acting suspiciously outside the home of one of its members in north Dublin.
The group has also claimed responsibility for the murder in September last year of RIRA chief Alan Ryan — but said it was aghast at the attack on his grave.
