Key member of ‘Lucky Dip’ gang arrested over hit-and-run in north Dublin

A key member of the ‘Lucky Dip’ car-theft gang has been arrested over a fatal hit-and-run in Dublin. Gardaí have been investigating the death of Michael ‘Mikey’ Farrelly (40), who was knocked down by a stolen car on July 17 this year. He was walking home along the Coast Road in Baldoyle, Dublin 13, when he was struck by the Hyundai Kona. The driver failed to remain at the scene. DNA and other key forensic evidence was later recovered from the vehicle, which was found abandoned nearby at Willie Nolan Road. On MondayYesterday morning, investigators arrested an 18-year-old who is believed to be a central member of a car-theft gang causing havoc across Leinster. The teenager, who is from the Blanchardstown area, is suspected of being the driver of the car involved in the fatal hit-and-run. He is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and can be detained for up to 24 hours. Sources last night described the young criminal as a “recidivist offender” who has been linked to car thefts across the capital. The arrested teenager is a central member of the so-called ‘Lucky Dip’ gang made up of juveniles and teenage males mainly from the Ballyfermot, Inchicore and Blanchardstown areas. Two members of the gang, who are both 17, are currently in custody in relation to separate garda investigations into their crime wave.