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Veteran Dublin gangster ‘Buckethead’ facing jail term over cocaine haul

Charlie ‘Buckethead’ Russell was caught with cocaine for sale or supply at the Castleknock Hotel in 2018.

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A well-known gangland criminal who chopped an innocent man’s hand off with a samurai sword is facing more time behind bars after being caught with drugs for sale or supply.

Charlie ‘Buckethead’ Russell appeared in court last week in relation to a cocaine seizure in Dublin five years ago.

The 43-year-old has been involved in crime for decades and was targeted on a number of occasions as part a gangland feud involving former members of ‘The Westies’,

Last week, Dublin Circuit Court heard that Russell, of Whitechapel Road, Clonsilla, was caught with cocaine for sale or supply at the Castleknock Hotel on Porterstown Road in Dublin on January 24, 2018.

He was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing on April 23 next year.

Russell has been involved in crime for years and his house was previously shot up as part of a feud amongst former members of the notorious Westies crime gang, which caused havoc in Dublin around the turn of the century.

Russell was aligned to one faction which included brothers Andrew and Mark Glennon and a well-known Dublin criminal who cant be identified as he is currently before the courts on serious charges.

The other side of the feud included Daniel Goulding, who was last year sentenced to 18 years behind bars for the attempted murder of two gardai who he shot from the bedroom of his home in 2021.

Goulding of Whitechapel Grove, Clonsilla, Co Dublin opened fire on the detectives without warning from the bedroom window of his home after officers responded to reports of gunshots on May 25, 2021.

The two officers were both shot in the leg while one was also shot in his hand.

The court heard that Goulding, who has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time and that his life is under genuine threat.

He felt under threat following the release of one of Russell’s associates from prison around that time, fearing it would reignite the feud amongst former Westies.

Russell’s home was shot in a gun attack in December 2004 as part of the feud.

Gardai arrested Daniel Goulding and an associate over that attack but they were later released without charge.

After they were released from custody a man opened fire on them with a submachine gun as they left Blanchardstown Garda Station.

The attack was believed to direct retaliation for the shooting of Buckethead’s home but no one was ever charged with either of the tit-for-tat attacks

The two Glennon brothers were later shot dead as part of the feud which has also claimed a number of lives since.

Russell was also involved in an infamous incident more than 15 years ago where he sliced off an innocent man’s hand with a samurai sword in a shocking attack in a north Dublin pub.

He was jailed for nine years in 2009 after he pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing Peter Rogers serious harm at The Deputy Mayor Pub, Meekstown, on January 13, 2008.

Russell gave no reason for the attack but a co-accused claimed the victim had said something to his girlfriend’s mother which led to the attack.

Russell was linked to a number of violent incidents in prison while serving the sentence for the sword attack.

Following his release, Russell was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident in west Dublin in 2016 which may have been linked to the feud.

In December 2018, he was involved in a bizarre incident where he suffered serious injuries when he fell on a fence.

He was brought to hospital after being found lying on a street in Finglas with what initially appeared to be stab wounds to his abdomen.

He did not co-operate with gardai but there were indications he may have sustained the injuries while trying to climb over a fence.