In November 2023, a 55-year-old man, once infamously labeled as one of Ulster’s “Seven Deadly Sinners” for his role in the drug trade, made⁣ headlines again.⁣ This time,⁢ he brandished a knife during a heated confrontation with another driver in south Belfast. Known for his criminal past,the man is now ​facing almost certain imprisonment when his sentencing concludes later this year.

This individual, Liam Mooney, was among the pioneers of large-scale drug trafficking in Northern⁤ Ireland. ‌Alongside his brother Mickey, who was later killed‍ by the IRA, Mooney flooded⁤ the ⁣region with Class A substances like ecstasy and vast‌ quantities⁣ of cannabis. His operations marked a dark chapter in the area’s history, as he became a key figure in the illicit drug trade.

Mooney’s life has been anything but ordinary. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he narrowly escaped multiple‌ assassination ‌attempts by the IRA. The group, seeking to regain control over republican territories after⁤ declaring ⁤a ceasefire, targeted him repeatedly. “Masquerading under their⁢ murder gang Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD), the ⁣Provos tried to kill ⁢him a number of times,” as one account describes. Despite these close calls, Mooney managed to survive, though his brother was not as fortunate.

Liam ‘Fat Boy’ Mooney: Drug baron faces jail again after pulling blade during road rage attack
Liam Mooney, a central figure in Northern Ireland’s drug trade, has faced⁤ numerous threats to his life.

Mooney’s story is a stark reminder of the ⁣violent undercurrents that have shaped parts of ‍Northern Ireland’s history. His survival through multiple⁢ assassination attempts speaks to both his resilience⁤ and the turbulent environment in which he operated. As he‌ awaits sentencing, his legacy remains a cautionary tale ‍of crime, survival, and the far-reaching‍ consequences of the drug trade.