Martin Foley
Encyclopedia
Martin "The Viper" Foley (November 24, 1952) is one of the Republic of Ireland
's best known criminals. He rose up from a street drug dealer
to be an associate of Martin Cahill
, one of Ireland's most notorious criminals. He has 33 convictions. He is considered a key figure in the McCormack-Foley crime family from Crumlin in Dublin. He has had several attempts on his life including being shot on five different occasions, including most recently on 26 January 2008. Foley was shot a number of times outside the Carlisle gym on Kimmage Road West in south Dublin city.
Foley is a well known Dublin gangland criminal. His first conviction was in 1968 and since then he has been a member of Martin Cahill's criminal gang, one of the so-called concerned criminals, abducted by the Provisional IRA and jailed for numerous offences including breaking a garda's jaw.
The shooting on 26 January 2008 is the fourth time Foley, who is known as 'the Viper' has been shot; in 1995 outside Fatima Mansions
, in 1996 by the convicted murderer Brian Meehan and in 2000 as he left a swimming pool in Terenure. This shooting is believed to be linked to the ongoing feud between two Crumlin/Drimnagh based criminal gangs, one of which Foley is aligned to. He was also abducted by the Provisional IRA in 1984 but escaped following a shoot out in the Phoenix Park between the kidnappers and Gardaí.
In 2007 he established his own debt collection business, "Viper Debt Recovery and Repossession Service", and has been investigated by the gardai following reports that people who owed him money had been threatened.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's best known criminals. He rose up from a street drug dealer
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
to be an associate of Martin Cahill
Martin Cahill
Martin "The General" Cahill was a prominent Irish criminal from Dublin.Cahill generated a certain notoriety in the media, which referred to him by the sobriquet "The General". The name was also used by the media in order to discuss Cahill's activities while avoiding legal problems with libel...
, one of Ireland's most notorious criminals. He has 33 convictions. He is considered a key figure in the McCormack-Foley crime family from Crumlin in Dublin. He has had several attempts on his life including being shot on five different occasions, including most recently on 26 January 2008. Foley was shot a number of times outside the Carlisle gym on Kimmage Road West in south Dublin city.
Foley is a well known Dublin gangland criminal. His first conviction was in 1968 and since then he has been a member of Martin Cahill's criminal gang, one of the so-called concerned criminals, abducted by the Provisional IRA and jailed for numerous offences including breaking a garda's jaw.
The shooting on 26 January 2008 is the fourth time Foley, who is known as 'the Viper' has been shot; in 1995 outside Fatima Mansions
Fatima Mansions (housing)
Fatima Mansions is an extensive public housing complex located in Rialto, Dublin. In recent years it has undergone a substantial urban renewal programme with the assistance of public and private funding.All existing apartment blocks were demolished to make way for 600 accommodation units,...
, in 1996 by the convicted murderer Brian Meehan and in 2000 as he left a swimming pool in Terenure. This shooting is believed to be linked to the ongoing feud between two Crumlin/Drimnagh based criminal gangs, one of which Foley is aligned to. He was also abducted by the Provisional IRA in 1984 but escaped following a shoot out in the Phoenix Park between the kidnappers and Gardaí.
In 2007 he established his own debt collection business, "Viper Debt Recovery and Repossession Service", and has been investigated by the gardai following reports that people who owed him money had been threatened.
Further reading
- Lyder, Andre. Pushers Out: The Inside Story of Dublin's Anti-Drugs Movement. Victoria, British Columbia: Trafford Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-4120-5099-5
External links
- RTE News - Foley appeal adjourned for report
- RTE News - Court reserves decision on Foley application
- TIME Europe Magazine: An Artful Dodge by Mairead Carey
- Village Magazine: Dublin's gang war in the media by Patrick Kennelly
- http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2008/jan/27/another-lucky-escape-for-the-viper-foley/