Gangster under threat from Alan Ryan mob making gradual return to city.
A notorious criminal who was previously under severe threat from the mob which was led by slain Real IRA figure Alan Ryan has been spending more and more time in Dublin in recent weeks, the Herald has learned.
Paul 'Burger' Walsh (34) fled Ireland a number of years ago when he became a target for dissident Republicans who later shot dead his close associate Michael 'Micka' Kelly in September, 2011. The RIRA crew were then later suspected of firebombing 'Burger' Walsh's north Dublin home two months later and spraying graffiti which threatened the well-known criminal. This all meant that 'Burger' spent most of his time between Spain's Costa-Del-Crime and Liverpool, where it is understood he set up a gym earlier this year. However it has now emerged that he has been making frequent trips to Dublin. "It shows that he is not bothered about any threats that may be coming from the crew who palled around with Alan Ryan. "The dissidents attached to Ryan are nothing like the force they were four years ago, and this means that Walsh has felt confident enough to come back more regularly. "Back then he didn't even come back for the funeral of 'Micka' Kelly, who he was very close to, because of the level of threat against him. Assets "However in recent times Walsh has been spotted being driven around and in the company of another criminal from the Coolock area who fled Ireland in the aftermath of Alan Ryan's murder in September, 2012," a source explained. 'Burger' Walsh was targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau in 2007 when the agency confiscated property and cash valued at almost €600,000 from him. Walsh had begun to build a property portfolio in Dublin, Laois and Wexford when his drug-dealing activities came to the attention of CAB. The bureau's investigation found that Walsh was a member of an organised crime gang in Dublin. Gardai examined his financial statements and concluded that the nature of deposits and withdrawals to and from a bank account with an estimated €80,000, on deposit was consistent with involvement in crime. Walsh had property in Baldoyle and Swords, and was in the process of buying two other houses in Co Laois, despite having no legitimate source of income. Meanwhile, a large garda presence is expected in north Dublin on Saturday afternoon when an Alan Ryan commemoration will take place at 2pm to mark the third anniversary of his death. Pals of Ryan are due to march from Donaghmede Church to Balgriffin Cemetery where an oration will be given by Francie Mackey, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement Chairman.
