Relief in community after the death of criminal suspected of multiple murders
By Maurice Garvey
FAMILIES affected by career criminal Mark Desmond have spoken of their relief in the wake of his demise.
Gardaí continue to investigate a list of potential suspects in the murder of Desmond (41) – who was shot up to four times in the head in Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, on Friday evening.
A car was later found burnt out in nearby Hayden’s Lane, and a firearm found in the vehicle’s front seat with another gun discovered nearby.
Orignally from Lally Road in Ballyfermot, Desmond was suspected of involvement in at least four murders, as well as multiple beatings and sexual assaults, including the alleged rape of a 15-year-old boy.
He was charged but never convicted of the horrific Canal Murders in 2000.
It is believed that Desmond lured Darren Carey (20) and Patrick Murray (19) to a drug-related meeting before murdering the two men.
Their bodies were then dumped into the Grand Canal, and were eventually discovered between January 9 and 10, 2000.
As Desmond’s trial was due to begin in 2002, a number of key witnesses refused to give evidence.
Desmond was given eight years on a charge of unlawful possession of firearms, and told relatives of the murdered boys in court that he would do the sentence “on my back.”
In 2004, the Court of Criminal Appeal overturned his conviction and he walked free.
A statement by the Murray family on social media this week, thanked the people of Ballyfermot for their support which they said was “over-whelming.”
The family said “It took 17 years for him to get exactly what he deserved” and now both families can try and “find comfort.”
Residents offered their support citing “justice”, and another saying “he won’t be hurting anyone else.”
Lucan Councillor Liona O’Toole, grew up on Lally Road, directly beside Mark Desmond, and babysat for one of the two boys when she was younger.
She was “horrified to hear of the ruthless killing” and has called for more CCTV and gardaí, fearing “gangland activity could get a foothold in Lucan.”
Cllr O’Toole said: “I actually grew up living beside him (Desmond). I also knew the two boys whom he was suspected of murdering by the Grand Canal.
“As a member of the Joint Policing Committee for South Dublin County Council, I have continually pushed for CCTV to be implemented in Lucan, particularly in our parks. Lucan does not currently get a sufficient level of gardaí as it is considered to be a quieter area compared to other parts of West Dublin. This belief has led to a severe under-resourcing of gardaí in Lucan.”
Desmond was also suspected of involvement in the murder of Maurice ‘Bo Bo’ Ward, a former armed robber, shot when he opened his door in Roanstown in 2002.
More recently, Desmond’s gang was suspected in the murder of James Kenny McDonagh (29) from Islandbridge, who was shot and buried in the Dublin mountains in 2010.
As the murders stacked up, so did the list of enemies.
Desmond survived attacks on his life in Ballyfermot in 2010 as he drove a quad bike, and in Tallaght in 2005, when a hitman fired shots into his car as he waited at traffic lights.
