CRIME CRACKDOWN

Eight gangs terrorise Ireland’s wild west as elite garda op smashes mob with Gilligan & Hutch links after boss caged

The Irish Sun can reveal details of the mobs who have been targeted

• Stephen Breen, Irish Sun Crime Editor

• Published: 7:00, 17 Jan 2025

THEY have been causing fear, terror and misery across the west of Ireland for the last 20 years.

But the EIGHT major gangs behind many of the crime sprees are now firmly in the sights of Gardai.

And The Irish Sun can reveal details of the mobs who have been targeted in an “organised criminal gang strategy” initiated by officers in the Sligo and Leitrim division.

The initiative to smash the gangs was established after Gardai identified all of the eight outfits were involved in serious crimes including drug trafficking, threats to life, witness intimidation, money laundering, human trafficking and burglaries.

Other crimes identified in the ongoing crackdown included assault, violent disorder, plant machinery theft, cross border crime, internet crime and excise and tax fraud.

The areas they have been operating in are Mayo, Clare, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and also across the border.