Dublin Crime Boss Arrested Over 2020 Murder of Gangland Figure Robbie Lawlor in Belfast
A 47-year-old Dublin man, widely referred to in reports as "Mr Big," has been arrested on an extradition warrant in connection with the murder of gangland criminal Robbie Lawlor, who was shot dead in north Belfast in April 2020 in a killing that shocked both sides of the border.
The arrest, made by Gardaí in Dublin on 2 April 2026, followed a joint investigation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The man appeared before the High Court in Dublin on Friday 3 April to face charges related to the murder.
Background
Robbie Lawlor, a prominent figure in the Drogheda drugs feud, was shot dead in broad daylight in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on 4 April 2020, at the age of 35. He was heavily suspected of involvement in multiple murders, including the dismemberment of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods. The PSNI investigation concluded that the murder was orchestrated from Dublin and was linked to a violent, ongoing drugs feud with connections in Dublin, Sligo, and Drogheda.
Key Developments
Investigators have reportedly used evidence from the infiltrated EncroChat criminal communications network, which allegedly implicates "Mr Big" in sanctioning the hit on Lawlor out of fear that Lawlor was planning to kill him first. The arrested man is known to An Garda Síochána for his involvement in serious and organised crime and has been a target of the Criminal Assets Bureau. Two other men have already been charged in connection with the murder.
The arrest represents a significant breakthrough in a cross-border investigation that has spanned six years. The use of EncroChat evidence — gathered from a network used by organised crime groups across Europe before it was infiltrated by law enforcement — has been central to a number of high-profile prosecutions in Ireland and the UK in recent years.
Why It Matters
The case highlights the close operational cooperation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in tackling cross-border organised crime. It also underscores the ongoing threat posed by Dublin-based criminal networks operating across the island of Ireland, and the long reach of law enforcement in pursuing those responsible for serious crimes.
What's Next
The extradition proceedings will now progress through the Irish courts. The man is expected to contest the extradition request. Full details of the arrest and court appearance are available via The Irish Times.
