{"id":426126,"date":"2026-04-08T13:51:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/426126\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T13:51:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:51:24","slug":"guns-for-hire-dublin-youth-gang-linked-to-e100k-raid-where-dog-was-drugged","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/426126\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Guns for hire’ Dublin youth gang linked to \u20ac100k raid where dog was drugged"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gardai are hunting this gang of thugs<\/a> behind a burglary spree – that sees them targeting people selling vehicles online.<\/p>\n

We have learned that the gang – which includes kids as young as 15 – is suspected of two separate arson attacks in the last 18 months. And they also recently drugged a dog in an audacious burglary – that saw them escape with vehicles worth up to \u20ac100,000.<\/p>\n

“They are absolutely rampant,” a source told us – as gardai<\/a> trey to track down the thugs, who are from separate parts of Dublin, but have come together to carry out burglaries all over Leinster. Sources also tell us the gang is suspected of targeting a family run business in the Midlands last week that saw them drug a guard dog before stealing several vehicles.<\/p>\n

It is understood the gang stole two Audis, a Ford<\/a> van and a motocross bike in their latest robbery. They attacked the family business – who have asked not to be identified – in the middle of the night on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A screengrab from a video posted online of the gang targeting a house in Crumlin, south Dublin, in which they stole three cars.(Image: Instagram)<\/p>\n

As many as six gangsters were involved in the raid and all wore balaclavas. They gave a family Doberman sedatives to knock it out before entering the business and targeting the vehicles.<\/p>\n

The thugs also set fire to at least one CCTV camera during the raid. The family has now posted that the items have been recovered – but sources tell us detectives have now identified the Dublin gang as prime suspects for the shocking raid.<\/p>\n

We understand officers also suspect the same gang was behind a burglary in the Crumlin<\/a> area of south Dublin on Wednesday, March 25. Three cars were stolen in that incident. Security camera footage posted online shows at least five masked males involved in the burglary.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

One the the cars stolen by the gang in a recent burglary.<\/p>\n

Sources tell us the burglary was carried out by the gang – made up of young criminals from north and south Dublin who have come together to form a new alliance. The sources said the thugs involved were aged from just 15 to their early 20s.<\/p>\n

Most of them are from the Bluebell and Ballyfermot areas of south central Dublin, but other are former members of the infamous Lucky Dip gang that is largely based in the Ballymun and Finglas areas of the city, north of the River Liffey, The Lucky Dip gang is also made of teenagers and are prolific burglars and car thieves who carry out raids all over Leinster – and this latest outfit is following in their footsteps.<\/p>\n

We have learned that the gang includes criminals who were engaged in a feud with the outfit that included Josh Itseli, 20, who was accidentally shot dead by an associate in Drimnagh in May 2024. The same gang was blamed for a pipe bomb attack on a house elsewhere in south Dublin a few months later. The gang also mounted an arson attack on another house in Dublin last year – but got the wrong property.<\/p>\n

\"Josh<\/p>\n

Josh Itseli, Drimnagh shooting victim<\/p>\n

And officers also believe the gang was paid to carry out an arson attack at a pub in Co Meath<\/a> earlier this year – in which eight cars were torched. The pub in Duleek is believed to have been targeted after an associate of missing drugs baron Sean Dunne – who vanished in Spain in early 2004 – was barred from it.<\/p>\n

He is understood to have paid the gang to carry out the arson attack, in which the cars of eight innocent people were destroyed. The gang used as a Toyota Avensis car to escape from the scene of the attack on January 2 and gardai later established it had been used in a string of burglaries beforehand.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A screengrab from a video posted online of the gang targeting a house in Crumlin, south Dublin, in which they stole three cars.(Image: Instagram)<\/p>\n

The car was used in the burglary of a house in Drimnagh on New Year’s morning. And officers also believe the gang used the same car for burglaries in Walksintown, Sallins and Ratoath. It’s understood gardai probing the gang believe they have access to weapons, including knives and machetes – and at least one firearm.<\/p>\n

It’s also understood one of the thugs has strong links to dissident republicans. “They are guns for hire,” one source said. “They will do anything from arson to shootings – you name it.”<\/p>\n

But the source also revealed they are prolific at stealing cars – of people they target online. The source said: “They all range from 15 to their early 20s.<\/p>\n

“In relation to (car thefts), they mostly seem to target vehicles for sale. They engage with the seller online and get the Eircode out of them. Then they go to the house, burgle it and take the vehicle. They are absolutely rampant and have their hands in everything.”<\/p>\n

Gardai confirmed to us the force was investigating the theft of a number of cars in an incident in Crumlin late last month. A spokesman said: “Garda\u00ed are investigating following the report of a burglary and theft of a number of cars at a residential property in Crumlin, Dublin 12 in the early hours of Wednesday 25th March 2026.<\/p>\n

“Investigation are ongoing.”<\/p>\n

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