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Ok, so here's why I think some people are spooked about Patrick Russell from #RTEInvestigates programme last night. Everyone is asking why did he get away with for so long? Well, there's strong circumstantial evidence he was a Garda informant and was protected.
Thread....
Thread....
Patrick Russell came to Garda attention in 80's when he was a member of Sinn Fein/IRA.
He was secretary of the cumman in Fingal & would have been in contact with senior IRA people. This was height of troubles and SF/IRA was riddled with informants on both sides of the border.
He was secretary of the cumman in Fingal & would have been in contact with senior IRA people. This was height of troubles and SF/IRA was riddled with informants on both sides of the border.
Next we hear of Russell, he pops up in Derry in the late 90s and is trying to do property deals with none other than former SF/IRA hunger striker turned property developer Tom McFeely. Yes him, of Prior Hall shame.
How McFeely went from broke ex-con to being able to source finance to fund large developments and do large deals has been the source of much, how shall I say, debate.
It came out in the wash from Albert Reynolds during the Moriarty tribunal than Russell had paid McFeely £20k
It came out in the wash from Albert Reynolds during the Moriarty tribunal than Russell had paid McFeely £20k
No one knows why Russell was paying off McFeely. But they were both of SF/IRA stock.
This is where is gets really wierd.
Next time Russell pops up is at Catherine Nevins murder trial. He's a prosecution witness along with two other SF/IRA men from the same Fingal SF branch.
This is where is gets really wierd.
Next time Russell pops up is at Catherine Nevins murder trial. He's a prosecution witness along with two other SF/IRA men from the same Fingal SF branch.
Russell said he knew that Nevin was asking around about having her husband murdered but didn't go to the authorities.
In fact Vincent Browne wrote and article arguing that it was dodgy as fuck that was Nevin convicted of solicitation to murder on their evidence.
In fact Vincent Browne wrote and article arguing that it was dodgy as fuck that was Nevin convicted of solicitation to murder on their evidence.
As #RTEInvestigates reported, as far back as 1990, he was scamming people. Gardai were aware of him scamming people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds before Nevins murder trial, he wasn't charged, nothing was done and he was still put forward as a prosecution witness? 
In 2006 McFeely was hit with a an €8m bill by the criminal assets bureau.
In 2012, it came out, the money that Russell had been robbing from clients was being passed on to McFeely.
In 2012, it came out, the money that Russell had been robbing from clients was being passed on to McFeely.
One cheque, for €50,000 was made payable to McFeely. Two other cheques, for €110,000 and €130,000 respectively, were made payable to McFeely's Coalport Building Company Limited.
A file was sent to the DPP on Russell, but again nothing happened. Why?
A file was sent to the DPP on Russell, but again nothing happened. Why?
Russell paying off Mcfeely goes back to the 90's as was given in evidence by none other than Albert Reynolds. The CAB also know this.
And it ain't pennys.
CAB & Garda fraud are aware of Mcfeely and Russells antics for years. And nothing happens to Russell until now?
And it ain't pennys.
CAB & Garda fraud are aware of Mcfeely and Russells antics for years. And nothing happens to Russell until now?
You have two so called ex Sinn Fein/IRA men enaged in money laundering, robbery and racketeering on a industrial scale for years and Russell is only getting 4 years now?
The Gardai, CAB and DPP have some serious questions to answer.
The Gardai, CAB and DPP have some serious questions to answer.
Finally,
Here's a quote from Sean McGlinchey, who planted a bomb that murdered 6 people. He's now a Sinn Féin Cllr and ex mayor of Limavady.
"McFeely is still a good friend, He is no angel, but we all have our faults, we all make mistakes."
Make what you will of that.
Here's a quote from Sean McGlinchey, who planted a bomb that murdered 6 people. He's now a Sinn Féin Cllr and ex mayor of Limavady.
"McFeely is still a good friend, He is no angel, but we all have our faults, we all make mistakes."
Make what you will of that.
