Mob boss whose gang murdered rival’s son, 4, & aunt in Offaly firebomb LOCKED UP amid dad’s revenge concerns & jail move
The gang boss, who lives in Westmeath, had his own home petrol-bombed last year during a row with a separate rival faction in Kildare
THE Midlands mob boss whose gang murdered a rival’s four-year-old son and aunt in a shocking petrol bomb attack is now locked up behind bars.
The “extremely dangerous” criminal runs a crime group linked to several killings.
They include the horrific arson attack before Christmas which claimed the lives of four-year-old Tadhg Farrell and Mary Holt, 60, in Edenderry, Co Offaly.
But just weeks after that deadly arson, The Irish Sun can reveal the thug has now been caged for a criminal damage offence.
And we have learned the brute was sent to the Midlands Prison, in Portlaoise, Co Laois, where his enemy and tragic Tadhg’s father Aaron Holt was incarcerated.
However, Holt — who has been disciplined eight times since going into custody last year — was subsequently transferred to another lock-up after being caught with three phones last week.
Detectives suspect the horrific petrol bomb attack that killed Tadhg and his grand-aunt Mary was sparked by an assault on the gang boss’ associate behind bars.
Gardai are probing if Holt ordered that prison attack, which was carried out by four others.
Hours later, a firebomb was thrown on top of Tadhg and Mary in the front room of her home in Castleview Park on the evening of December 6.
The victim of the prison attack was arrested earlier this month, becoming the first man lifted as part of the firebomb probe.
Cops believe he has “intimate knowledge” of which associates of the Midlands gang were involved and who sanctioned the horrific attack.
However it is understood the lag made no admissions before being returned to prison.
GARDAI’S FEAR
As the huge investigation — led by gardai in Tullamore with support from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation — continues, more arrests are expected.
Cops have identified a number of suspects, including a young teenager and a man in his 20s.
The pair were among targets in raids before Christmas in Kildare and Offaly, in which clothes, phones and other items were seized.
But the Gardai’s fear is further violence from either side.
‘RECKLESS’
Sources say 27-year-old Holt is “reckless”, with concerns he will seek revenge through associates on the outside.
And despite the rival gang boss being behind bars, his group is well capable of further violence.
A source told The Irish Sun: “Aaron Holt is more dangerous than the gang boss, who is definitely smarter.
“The fact that Holt has been caught with multiple phones in prison shows he is attempting to maintain contact with associates on the outside.
They came for his innocent relatives. That is something he will not let go
Irish Sun source
“They came for his innocent relatives. That is something he will not let go.
“The gang boss heads a group with a propensity for violence.
“Younger men have become involved who are now carrying out these attacks, and they fly off the handle quite easily, which makes them particularly dangerous.”
The gang boss, who lives in Westmeath, had his own home petrol-bombed last year during a row with a separate rival faction in Kildare.
PARTICULARLY VOLATILE
He used to run the Midlands OCG with his brother, who died some years ago, and has assumed full control since.
Sources say the gangster — who has a personal driver when not in prison — is particularly volatile.
In his younger years, he burnt out his former partner’s car despite her being the mother of his child.
Their son, who is now in his 20s, is a “person of interest” in the Edenderry case.
‘IMPENETRABLE’ GROUP
The group operates layers below the top mobs in the country, from whom they buy drugs to sell on to customers.
They are “impenetrable”, tied together through family and marriage, with very few beyond that accepted into the inner circle.
Senior members were associates of Andy Barry’s gang but were investigated for double-crossing the mob boss when he was shot dead alongside his associate Zilvinas Varnauskas in Kilcock, Co Kildare, in March 2012.
Following Barry’s murder, they filled the void left behind.
INTIMIDATION AND FEAR
They have also been investigated over the murder of Silvestras Stoskus, 20, whose body was found in a field in the Broadford area of Kildare in March 2015, and another killing currently before the courts.
Their modus operandi is to inflict intimidation and fear.
Edenderry is just one of the spots of turf Gardai believe they hold power over.
Cops believe that Holt selling drugs in the area, as well as owing the gang money, sparked the dispute.
‘PROFOUND NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES’
Last week, Holt was jailed for seven years over a €33,000 heroin seizure in 2024.
Judge Keenan Johnson said he sympathised with the deaths of Holt’s son and aunt but their loss illustrates the “profound negative consequences of involvement in the drug industry”.
He noted that two ‘tick lists’ were linked to Holt at the time of the seizure, one worth almost €100,000.
And the judge said a probation report found Holt is at “high risk” of reoffending, even though his involvement in drugs has seen innocent family members fall victim to intimidation and violence.
MISSED FUNERAL
Holt had 59 previous convictions including 15 for drugs.
He was not present for his own son’s funeral after being refused compassionate bail in December.
A letter read out on Holt’s behalf saw him apologise for significant mistakes.
His barrister, Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, told the court: “What has happened in the recent past has hit him like a train coming down the tracks.
‘MOST PAINFUL’ MONTH
“It has caused him to reflect on his own life.”
He added Holt now understands the impacts for himself and his family, stating: “The past month has been the most painful of his life.”
