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THUG THREATS

Bungling hitman with €200k bounty on head issues shock threat to ‘rat’ Kinahan thug after cheating death

• Published: 7:00, 8 Sep 2023

BUNGLING hitman James ‘Nellie’ Walsh has issued a threat to senior Kinahan cartel member Peadar Keating, the Irish Sun can reveal.

Walsh, 36, who cheated death in Co Carlow last December when he was targeted by a hit team, also made threats to three other men in a series of social media posts.

In one post, he showed an image of himself with the message “30 bullets still alive, took six bullets and I’m still here – are yous ready”.

He also posted an image of three men in balaclavas with the message “where come for yous rats” and another man in the car with the message “bang”.

He also branded Keating and three other men in his social media post “rats”.

Walsh issued the threat against Keating, 42, despite the cartel member – who was Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh’s right hand man in Ireland – serving an eleven year sentence for directing the activities of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.

One source said: “Walsh is very violent and volatile and who knows why he has taken to social media to do this.

“He has a lot of enemies and his feud with Keating has been going on for a very long time.

“Walsh has been keeping a low profile in recent months and is constantly on the go.

“He has a group of loyal friends and is obviously under pressure by the fact he has taken to social media to make threats.”

Gardai believe Walsh was targeted in December after he was set up by someone he trusted after going to buy a car from an innocent seller.

The hit came weeks after he escaped uninjured in a brazen machine gun attack in Tallaght.

Walsh was released from prison a year ago after serving an eight year sentence for a botched hit on gangland target Michael Frazer in 2014.

During the hit on Frazer, Walsh shot himself in the leg.

HUNTED ACROSS IRELAND

He moved to a small village in Co Wexford as his enemies hunted him across Ireland.

We also revealed how there is a €200,000 price on Walsh’s head due to his ongoing feud with Keating and his associates.

During Walsh’s time in prison, he was assaulted by members of the Kinahan cartel over his feud with Keating’s associates.

Although he has been back to Ronanstown in recent months, he is continuing to live in different safe houses.

Walsh’s feud with Keating started in 2021 after his gang was accused of trying to muscle in on the drugs trade in west Dublin.

It spiralled out of control leading to four murders, including innocent lad Dean Johnston, who was killed by cartel hitman Glen Clarke when he targeted Walsh.