Freddie Thompson (Irish criminal)
Freddie Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frederick Thompson 1980 Dublin, Ireland |
| Other names | "Fat Freddie" |
| Organization | Kinahan Organised Crime Group |
| Relatives | Liam Byrne (cousin) David Byrne (cousin)[4] |
| Criminal charge | Spain
Ireland
|
| Penalty |
|
| Details | |
| Victims | David Douglas[2] |
| Imprisoned at | Portlaoise Prison[3] |
Frederick "Fat Freddie" Thompson is an Irish criminal connected to the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud who was also convicted of the murder of David Douglas.[5]
Early life
[edit]He was born in 1980 and grew up in the Maryland area of south-inner city Dublin.[5] He first came to the attention of the Garda Síochána in his teens for car theft and related offences.[5]
He is a cousin of Liam Byrne who’s brother David who was shot in February 2016.[6]
Thompson assumed control of the Dublin branch of the Kinahan gang after Christy Kinahan was jailed in 1997 in relation to stolen cheques.[7]
During 2007-2008 he was involved with a feud with the INLA, including Declan Duffy, which caused him to flee Dublin several times.[7][8] Because of this, Liam Byrne gradually assumed control of the Dublin branch of the gang.[7]
Ambush
[edit]In 2008, he was travelling in a Four-wheel drive car in Spain with Paddy Doyle and Gary Hutch, a nephew of Gerry Hutch when they were ambushed and Doyle was shot dead.[5] (Gary Hutch was shot at the start of the Hutch–Kinahan feud.[5])
Extradition to Spain
[edit]Thompson was extradited to Spain in 2011 after Spanish authorities linked him to an organisation based in the Costa del Sol, namely the Kinahan gang.[5] He was allowed to return to Ireland in 2013.[5] He was wanted in Spain on three charges - unlawful assembly, drugs offences, possession of weapons and arms trafficking.[9] Spanish authorities claimed that he procured weapons for the organisation and is a bodyguard and chauffeur.[9]
Thompson submitted a statement of means claiming he had no income.[9] Counsel for the state asked how Thompson could support himself when he did not claim welfare, was not registered for business or tax yet travelled around Europe.[9] Thompson claimed he was supported by his mother.[9] The judge found the statement of means very unsatisfactory and refused free legal aid.[9] Ultimately, Thompson was not convicted for any criminal offences in Spain.[10]
Extradition from Netherlands
[edit]In May 2014, he was arrested by Dutch police on foot of an international arrest warrant.[11] He was extradited from Amsterdam and held in custody.[11][1] It was related to a brawl on 7 January 2013, at Morriseys' pub, Cork Street, "sparked by slagging" after a funeral.[1]
In February 2015, he pleaded guilty to violent disorder for which he was jailed.[5][1] At the time of the Garda investigation Thompson had 29 previous convictions.[1] Judge Martin Nolan said that Thompson had probably caused the brawl and that he had thrown a bottle at someone.[1] He also described the brawl as "a quite serious fracas" in which many people were involved.[1] Thompson pleaded guilty and his sentence was backdated to 23 May 2014, the date he was first remanded.[1]
Murder of David Douglas
[edit]In July 2016, David Douglas was murdered and Thompson was charged with the murder that November.[5][12] In August 2018, Thompson was convicted of the murder.[5][2] He is imprisoned in Portlaoise Prison, though spent several months in Cork Prison after attacking prison staff in Portlaoise.[3][13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h MacLean, Sonya (3 February 2015). "'Fat Freddie' jailed for funeral brawl". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ a b c "Freddie Thompson found guilty of feud murder of David Douglas". TheJournal.ie. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ a b Foy, Ken (29 August 2024). "Jailed gangster Freddie Thompson did not seek pass to attend funeral of cousin Liam Roe". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 29 August 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ Foy, Ken (9 February 2016). "Convicted criminal 'Fat' Freddie Thompson 'had blood on clothes' when arrested last night". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Schiller, Robin (1 September 2018), 'Fat' Freddie Thompson: from juvenile car thief to feared gangland criminal, Irish Independent, retrieved 1 September 2018
- ^ Foy, Ken (9 February 2016). "Convicted criminal 'Fat' Freddie Thompson 'had blood on clothes' when arrested last night". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Lally, Conor (30 March 2019). "Liam Byrne: Daniel Kinahan's lieutenant in Dublin". Irish Times. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ McCaffrey, Mick (22 June 2008). "Gangland feud to explode, senior gardaí warn". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Freddie Thompson to be extradited to Spain". RTE News. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ Foy, Ken (26 September 2015). "Slain gangster Gary Hutch and 'Fat' Freddie Thompson's secret 'drug trips'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Dutch police hold Irish man wanted by Gardaí". Irish Examiner. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Freddie Thompson charged with murder of David Douglas". TheJournal.ie. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ O'Toole, Michael (12 February 2024). "Kinahan cartel killer Freddie Thompson facing charges for attacking prison staff". Dublin Live. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
See also
[edit]- Graham "the wig" Whelan, who sided with Thompson during the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud.
- Liam Byrne, cousin of Thompson.
- David Byrne, cousin of Thompson killed in the Regency Hotel shooting.