'Bloodbath' fears if gangster Alan Wilson is freed from prison

Notorious gangster Alan Wilson (36) was today due to appeal against his conviction and seven-year sentence which he was given for an incident in which he attacked a man with a meat cleaver after breaking into his home in Blanchardstown.

Gardai later found firearms residue on his clothing.

Wilson is appealing both his conviction and sentence but his lawyers are due to make an application today on a "large number of grounds" that he be freed on bail pending the decision of the Appeal Court.

Sources say that this has led to "major worries" that Wilson may be bailed and seek revenge against people who gave statements against him in the Marioara Rostas murder case, a crime for which he was acquitted last July.

statements

"Gardai would have serious concerns for people who Wilson perceives co-operated with the investigation into the Rostas murder," the source added.

"He knows exactly who made statements about him and if he was to get out, a special policing plan would have to be drawn up to protect these people.

"Of particular concern would be a former girlfriend of his and a solicitor that he was previously associated with. These people would need to be watched."

Gardai are concerned because Wilson's associates were involved in a campaign of terror against people he suspected were involved in co-operating with gardai after he was charged with the murder of Marioara Rostas.

This involved a number of non-fatal shootings and threats made to people he thought could be witnesses.

Wilson's seven-year sentence relates to an incident in which he attacked a man with a meat cleaver after breaking into his home at Dromheath Drive, Blanchardstown in June 2009.

Wilson's cousin David Crowley was also involved in the attack.

He received an eight-year sentence after a trial which was blighted by witness intimidation. The trial heard that Wilson, who was arrested with Crowley shortly after the incident, had been wearing a bullet-proof vest.

kfoy@herald.ie