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‘Leaving Man Utd works wonders’ – Fans love Antony’s wild Real Betis celebrations as he goes topless and waves huge flag
MANCHESTER UNITED flop Antony celebrated wildly as he helped Real Betis make it six league wins in a row.
The Brazilian joined the Spanish side on loan during the winter transfer window.
After failing to impress across two-and-a-half years at Man Utd following an £86million move from Ajax, Antony has found a new lease of life with Real.
The 25-year-old has scored four goals and assisted four in 12 games.
His performances have earned him widespread praise.
But after playing the full match in a 2-1 win over Sevilla to ensure his side won the Seville derby, it was what he did after the game which really caught the eye.
As fans celebrated a sixth La Liga win on the bounce by staying behind at the Villamarin Stadium, Antony was seen waving the club’s flag around.
The winger had taken his top off while doing so.
Later on he was lifted up by goalkeeper Adrian, who joined the club for free last summer after leaving Liverpool.
Speaking after the game, Antony’s team-mate Isco urged the club to do all they could to land him and even joked they should do some “crowdfunding”.
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The former Real Madrid star said: “We need to do crowdfunding or something so that Antony can stay at least one more year.
“He has surprised us with the humility he’s brought.”
Fans reacting to Antony’s topless flag waving on social media said: “I’m crying with Antony, this guy… I hope he stays at Betis.”
A second said: “Just look at how happy Antony is. Leaving United really works wonders for players.”
A third added: “AURA.”
Another said: “Passion like that could power the whole stadium!”
Real Betis chiefs hinted in February that Antony’s deal could be extended beyond this summer.
There is no transfer clause in the deal which took Antony to Spain from Manchester, but the club are covering a portion of his £105,000 a week wages.
However, sporting director Manu Fajardo has now outlined the club will likely need to qualify for the Champions League to be able to afford Antony.
He said: “In Betis’ sporting department, we work on ‘devalued’ players, analysing data from players who have reached very high moments and peaks, but who for various reasons have significantly decreased their performance.
“We are concerned about their situation and speak with major clubs. In his case, we were able to anticipate and convince the player, and his entourage.
“Today, Antony is performing immediately from minute one in the squad.
“We haven’t lost our enthusiasm, we can’t rule out anything in football and hopefully Real Betis will remain in the top European positions to benefit his continuity and the arrival of other great players.”
The club currently sit sixth in La Liga, six points off of the top four.
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F1 2025 rule changes: What has the FIA altered for the new season?
FORMULA ONE is getting ready to celebrate 75 years of the sport – with SEVEN new rule changes for fans ahead of the new season.
Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Ferrari will also see a handful of new rule changes, as he prepares to win an eighth world title.
Rookie drivers will be happy with the new rules, with the rules seeing them get more time in the car and on the track.
The biggest rule change ahead of the new season will see drivers UNABLE to score an extra point if they are the fastest driver on the grid.
The rule had before been used as a tactic, with Daniel Ricciardo scoring the point during his final race to deny Lando Norris a Grand Slam weekend.
The Sao Paulo 2024 Grand Prix has also enforced a rule change, with the qualifying session unable to even get going during Saturday’s wet weather conditions last season.
SunSport has everything you need to know about the rule changes ahead of the 2025 season.
What rules have changed ahead of 2025?
1 – Removal of the fastest lap point
The biggest rule change for 2025 is the elimination of the fastest lap points.
The rule had been implemented in 2019, and it meant that a driver could score an extra point if they finished a lap in the quickest time, if they were inside the top ten of the final classification.
If a driver finished a lap the fastest outside the top ten, then they would still earn the fastest lap title, but would not earn any points.
2 – Driver cooling systems
The F1 calendar takes drivers all around the world, sometimes to extremely hot climates such as Saudi Arabia.
The FIA can now declare a “Heat Hazard” if a weather forecast predicts temperatures to rise to 31C or above, which will lead to an increase in the weight limit of cars.
Cars will be allowed an extra 2kg of weight for Practice, Qualifying and Sprint Qualifying sessions, and an extra 5kg for a Sprint or a Grand Prix.
3 – Limits on testing old cars
The rules on Testing of Previous Car (TPC) regulations already changed a year ago, as new rules stated teams must test parts that had run during a race weekend at least once.
Teams can remain to carry out up to 20 days of TPC testing, but their race drivers are only allowed to take part in four days, during which they cannot exceed 1000km driven.
McLaren has showcased the benefit of TPC testing, allowing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to go back on track in their car from last season ahead of the new season testing.
It also offers a huge advantage for younger drivers, who can go out into F1 regulation cars and get prepared to head out into practice sessions.
4 – More running time for rookies
In F1, a rookie is described as someone who had not completed two F1 Grands Prix.
It has been a rule since 2022 that each team must run a rookie in each of their cars – twice in total – over the course of a season.
Teams usually chose to fill this time during FP1.
However, in 2025 the rule will double, meaning at least twice per season in each car, a rookie must run for at least one session.
5 – Stricter restrictions on DRS designs and wing deflections
The Drag Reduction System (DRS) essentially allows teams to open their rear wing and reduce downforce, allowing the car to travel at a faster speed.
The DRS system is activated when a car is within a second to the car in front of it, and is in one of the designated “DRS zones” on a track.
Teams have been able to design a “mini-DRS” concept, in which the rear wing tilts backwards when travelling at fast speeds.
The new restrictions look to eliminate this by defining the state of deployment and restriction to only two position: open and closed.
6 – Changes to qualifying classifications
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix in 2024 saw qualifying pushed back so far that it essentially happened as a prelude to the race on the Sunday, rather than happening the day prior.
The first change states that if the stewards deem the qualifying session unsafe to take place, the race classification order will be based on the Drivers’ Championship classification.
Moreover, if one session of a qualifying takes place (Q1), but Q2 and Q3 takes places will multiple drivers not setting a time, they will be ranked based on who set the fastest lap in the prior session.
For example, if Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton both start a flying lap in Q3, but there is a red flag that ends the session, the two will be ranked based on which car was faster in Q2.
7 – A mule car tyre test
This will change the end-of-season testing in Abu Dhabi.
While one car can be allowed to be driven as usual by a driver who has started no more than two Grands Prix, the second car must be used to test tyres for 2026.
The tyres will be a different dimension and specification in 2026, and teams will need to test them during their end-of-season testing.
Full race schedule
Round One – Australia
Practice one – Fri, Mar 14, 1:30am GMT
Practice two – Fri, Mar 14, 5am GMT
Practice three – Sat, Mar 15, 1:30am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Mar 15, 5am GMT
Race – Sun, Mar 16, 4am GMT
- Winner – Lando Norris
Round Two – China – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Mar 21, 3:30am GMT
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Mar 21, 7:30am GMT
Sprint – Sat, Mar 22, 3am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Mar 22, 7am GMT
Race – Sun, Mar 23, 7am GMT
- Winner – Oscar Piastri
Round Three – Japan
Practice one – Fri, Apr 4, 3:30am BST
Practice two – Fri, Apr 4, 7am BST
Practice three – Sat, Apr 5, 3:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Apr 5, 7am BST
Race – Sun, Apr 6, 6am BST
Round Four – Bahrain
Practice one – Fri, Apr 11, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Apr 11, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Apr 12, 1:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Apr 12, 5pm BST
Race – Sun, Apr 13, 4pm BST
Round Five – Saudi Arabia
Practice one – Fri, Apr 18, 2:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Apr 18, 6pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Apr 19, 2:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Apr 19, 6pm BST
Race – Sun, Apr 20, 6pm BST
Round Six – Miami – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, May 2, 5:30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying- Fri, May 2 , 9:30pm BST
Sprint – Sat, May 3, 5pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 3, 9pm BST
Race – Sun, May 4, 9pm BST
Round Seven – Emilia-Romagna
Practice one – Fri, May 16, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, May 16, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, May 17, 11:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 17, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, May 18, 2pm BST
Round Eight – Monaco
Practice one – Fri, May 23, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, May 23, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, May 24, 11:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 24, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, May 25, 2pm BST
Round Nine – Spain
Practice one – Fri, May 30, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, May 30, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, May 31, 11:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, May 31, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Jun 1, 2pm BST
Round Ten – Canada
Practice one – Fri, Jun 13, 6:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Jun 13, 10pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Jun 14, 5:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jun 14, 9pm BST
Race – Sun, Jun 15, 7pm BST
Round 11 – Austria
Practice one – Fri, Jun 27, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Jun 27, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Jun 28, 11:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jun 28, 3pm BST
Race – Sat, Jun 29, 2pm BST
Round 12 – Silverstone
Practice one – Fri, Jul 4, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Jul 4, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Jul 5, 11:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jul 5, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Jul 6, 3pm BST
Round 13 – Belgium – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Jul 25, 11:30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Jul 25, 3:30pm BST
Sprint – Sat, Jul 26 , 11am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Jul 26, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Jul 27, 2pm BST
Round 14 – Hungary
Practice one – Fri, Aug 1, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Aug 1, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Aug 2, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Aug 2, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Aug 3, 2pm BST
Round 15 – Netherlands
Practice one – Fri, Aug 29, 11:30am BST
Practice two – Fri, Aug 29, 3pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Aug 30, 10:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Aug 30, 2pm BST
Race – Sun, Aug 31, 2pm BST
Round 16 – Italy
Practice one – Fri, Sep 7, 12:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Sep 7, 4pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Sep 8, 11:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Sep 8, 3pm BST
Race – Sun, Sep 9, 2pm BST
Round 17 – Azerbaijan
Practice one – Fri, Sep 19, 9:30am BST
Practice two – Fri, Sep 19, 1pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Sep 20, 9:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Sep 20, 1pm BST
Race – Sun, Sep 21, 12pm BST
Round 18 – Singapore
Practice one – Fri, Oct 3, 10:30am BST
Practice two – Fri, Oct 3, 2pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Oct 4, 10:30am BST
Qualifying – Sat, Oct 4, 2pm BST
Race – Sun, Oct 5, 1pm BST
Round 19 – United States – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Oct 17, 6:30pm BST
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Oct 17, 10:30pm BST
Sprint – Sat, Oct 18, 6pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Oct 18, 10pm BST
Race – Sun, Oct 19, 8pm BST
Round 20 – Mexico
Practice one – Fri, Oct 24, 7:30pm BST
Practice two – Fri, Oct 24, 11pm BST
Practice three – Sat, Oct 25, 6:30pm BST
Qualifying – Sat, Oct 25, 10pm BST
Race – Sun, Oct 26, 8pm GMT
Round 21 – Brazil – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Nov 7, 2:30pm GMT
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Nov 7, 6:30pm GMT
Sprint – Sat, Nov 8, 2pm GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Nov 8, 6pm GMT
Race – Sun, Nov 9, 5pm GMT
Round 22 – Las Vegas
Practice one – Fri, Nov 20, 12:30am GMT
Practice two – Fri, Nov 20, 4am GMT
Practice three – Sat, Nov 21, 12:30am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Nov 21, 4am GMT
Race – Sun, Nov 22, 4am GMT
Round 23 – Qatar – Sprint weekend
Practice one – Fri, Nov 28, 1:30pm GMT
Sprint Qualifying – Fri, Nov 28, 5:30pm GMT
Sprint – Sat, Nov 29, 2pm GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Nov 29, 6pm GMT
Race – Sun, Nov 30, 4pm GMT
Round 24 – Abu Dhabi
Practice one – Fri, Dec 5, 9:30am GMT
Practice two – Fri, Dec 5, 1pm GMT
Practice three – Sat, Dec 6, 10:30am GMT
Qualifying – Sat, Dec 6, 2pm GMT
Race – Sun, Dec 7, 1pm GMT
Taxi price war as Dublin cabbies fed up with drivers being overcharged set up new low cost app to rival FreeNow & Uber
A GROUP of cabbies in Dublin have come together to create their own app to take on the big taxi firms because they believe drivers are footing unfare bills.
German taxi giant FreeNow charges 15 per cent of a fare, while US app Uber pockets 12 per cent from the total bill.
Dublin taxi drivers Kamal Gill and Lar Kelly felt these big companies were taking too much from fares and have started their own app, Hola, that charges cabbies just €1 per fare.
Kamal — who has been working as a cab driver in Dublin for more than 10 years — had the idea for Hola last year, before teaming up with Lar. They were also helped by Alex Andrei and Yasr Rana.
Lar, who has been a taxi driver in the Fair City for more than 30 years, believes drivers are being taken for a ride by apps that now dominate the industry.
He told The Irish Sun: “What Hola really is is a community. That’s what we have in our mind. We don’t want to treat drivers like contractors. This is a community that is driving the service. For drivers, by drivers.
“This is basically to give drivers a platform to allow them to advertise to whoever they want. The commission then is only €1.
“For example, I was speaking to a driver at a rank the other day and he said he paid FreeNow €120 in commissions last week — that’s 120 jobs on our app.”
The pair claim to have close to 1,000 drivers signed up to Hola, which is beginning to build a customer base around the capital.
Kamal came up with the idea of taking on the big players in the industry after seeing taxi drivers complain about how much they were being charged for their work.
He told us: “Drivers will be on WhatsApp or Facebook groups giving out about FreeNow or Uber about how they are over overcharging the commissions.
“They always say, ‘We need something of our own. We need a platform where we have our say and we decide what we do.’
“Then one of my friends said, ‘Why don’t you do it?’. So I just went and did it and then I started meeting with people about it and a friend put me together with Lar.”
For customers, Hola looks and feels similar to other taxi-booking apps where you can pre-book or search instantly for a ride.
People can pay for their journey through the app, with drivers then kicking back €1 per booking to the Hola team to run the service.
‘MAINTAINS COMPETITIVENESS’
Uber Ireland said they welcome the addition of Hola to the market.
They told us: “At Uber, we strive to maintain competitive pricing within our industry. We welcome the introduction of Hola Taxi which maintains competitiveness in the Irish market.”
“What Hola really is is a community. That’s what we have in our mind. We don’t want to treat drivers like contractors. This is a community that is driving the service. For drivers, by drivers.”
Lar Kelly
A spokesperson for FreeNow said they pay their drivers bonuses to reward them for their work.
They said: “Rewarding our hard-working driver partners is a priority for FreeNow.
“Drivers regularly receive bonuses in their weekly payments depending on the volume of trips they’ve completed at peak times.”
Tit-for-tat trade war between US & EU to be unleashed in days – everything to know on Trump’s tariffs impact on Ireland
DONALD TRUMP has declared Wednesday “Liberation Day” when he will unleash his latest tariffs — the taxes he plans to impose on the imports of goods.
The US President will impose a 25 per cent levy on Irish-based US pharmaceutical companies in a bid to lure them back to the States, potentially costing up to 80,000 jobs in Ireland.
He said: “They have taken so much out of our country, friend and foe, and frankly friend has been often times much worse than foe.”
Announcing his plan, Trump said the US did not make many medicines, adding: “It’s in other countries — largely made in China, a lot of it made in Ireland.
“Ireland was very smart. We love Ireland. But we are going to have that.”
April 2 is being viewed with dread in Government Buildings and in office boardrooms across the State.
It could mark the beginning of a full-scale trade war between the European Union and the US.
Chief economist with the Institute of International and European Affairs, Dan O’Brien, warned: “Potentially it’s a date that will go down in Irish economic history — it’s that serious.”
Here, we take a closer look . . .
WHY SHOULD IRELAND BE WORRIED ABOUT TARIFFS?
IRELAND’S long-standing economic model has been based on foreign direct investment.
A lot of our economic growth and expansion has come from a period of globalisation and economic policy of free trade around the world.
The Government has warned that up to 80,000 jobs that could be created in future may not proceed in Ireland’s multinational sector if President Trump launches a trade war with the EU.
It is expected that Trump will target these roles as part of an effort to repatriate jobs and taxes to the US.
Chief economist with Deloitte Ireland, Kate English, says Ireland has an exposure to exports of medical and pharmaceutical products.
She explained: “Medical and pharma products exported to the US accounted for 20 per cent of total good exports in Ireland in 2024.
“And they accounted for about 61 per cent of total goods exported to the US.”
She added: “Any change in that trade environment changes the dynamic of how our exports could potentially perform and that could have a knock-on impact to our wider economic growth story.”
The EU is expected to respond with tariffs against the US.
It’s concerned that any tariff on an Irish product will make it more expensive in the US, potentially making it less competitive there.
HOW MUCH DOES IRELAND EXPORT TO THE US?
The US is Ireland’s largest export market, with a significant portion of exports consisting of medical and pharmaceutical products.
The Central Statistics Office’s estimates for 2024 show that total Irish exports were valued at a record €223.8billion, and imports were valued at €133.6billion.
Exports of goods to the US were €72.6billion in 2024, up €18.6billion on 2023, while imports of goods from the US were €22.5billion, a decrease of two per cent on 2023.
Pharmaceutical goods made up €58billion of exports to the US last year.
CSO figures for 2023 show that the US accounted for 28 per cent of the total value of Irish exports at €54billion.
Mr Trump said the tariffs on pharmaceuticals are aimed at bringing the industry back to the US.
WHAT IMPACT COULD THEY HAVE ON IRISH EXPORTS?
Tariffs could have both a direct and an indirect impact on Irish exports.
The direct impact is that Irish goods will become more expensive in the US and people with smaller budgets might not continue to buy them and choose a cheaper option instead.
The indirect impact is on Irish companies who sit in the supply chain of goods that are finished elsewhere.
For example, if a tariff is put on intermediary goods produced in Ireland as part of a product that is finished in another country, it will make the Irish component more expensive and less attractive.
ESRI Research Professor Kieran McQuinn said there is “no doubt” that US tariffs would have a negative impact on jobs and investment.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL KNOCK-ON EFFECTS FOR THE WIDER IRISH ECONOMY?
The ESRI and Department of Finance have estimated that tariffs could cost Ireland more than €18billion in lost trade and pose a long-term risk to the public finances.
The sectors that are most exposed include pharmaceutical and technology manufacturing where we often see higher wages among employees in these areas.
A secondary impact of these sectors being affected includes a possible reduction in employment levels or activity.
Ms English said: “There could be an impact to our VAT receipts that comes from the consumer spending that takes place.
“And if there’s a reduction in your employment within those sectors, there’s also the potential impact on income tax receipts.
“It’s the immediate sectors that are most exposed to it, but it’s also then those secondary impacts that can be potentially felt within our economy.”
HOW ARE AFFECTED SECTORS REACTING?
The Irish Exporters Association said the uncertainty and chaos surrounding Trump’s plan is not helpful to anybody and people are worried about the effect it will have on their business and their livelihood.
It’s concerned that if exports slow and Irish companies sell less and the economy slows down, there will be a massive impact in the long-term in Ireland.
CEO Simon McKeever said there’s a lot of attention focused on the foreign direct investment community here.
But he pointed out that many Irish-owned businesses are exporting to the US and have strategic plans that see them growing there.
He said: “I have no doubt Ireland will be hit with tariffs as part of the tariffs levelled against the European Union.
“Beyond trade, the impact on foreign direct investment cannot be overstated.”
The Trump administration tariffs pose a major threat to Irish food and drink exports.
Last year, we exported approximately €1.9 billion worth of food and drink products to the US.
President of the Irish Farmers Association Francie Gorman said the US market accounts for around 11 per cent of total food and drink exports.
He said: “The scale of the tariffs being talked about would have a serious impact on what we have achieved.”
The Family boss’ plot to scrub Ghost network texts as ‘years of work blow up’ in hack before raids as new details emerge
THE panicked leader of The Family ordered for data to be wiped from the Ghost network when he realised law enforcement had hacked it, The Irish Sun can reveal.
But the chief of Ireland’s top drug gang was too late — as the encrypted service used by criminals was breached months before cops around the world carried out a series of raids last year.
The thug, 47, was last week quizzed by gardai on directing an organised crime gang as his underworld business continues to go up in flames.
The Irish Sun has learned that detectives have connected him to a number of hacked messages and usernames on the Ghost network.
The career criminal also has been placed holding meetings with significant figures involved in moving the mob’s drugs and money.
Gardai believe the beefed-up gangster had a hands-on role in directing and overseeing at least nine drug trafficking and money laundering operations last year.
A source told The Irish Sun: “He’s in big trouble, this is years of work and connections he has built blowing up in his face.”
Despite running a transnational organised crime gang who have become a priority target for the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in recent years, the mobster has stayed put in Dublin.
Last Monday morning, the door of his house was smashed open at 6.30am.
Officers had their guns drawn and roared “armed gardai”.
As the veteran criminal was placed in handcuffs and put into the back-seat of an unmarked car in his grey tracksuit, four other premises in the capital, Wexford and Kildare, were raided simultaneously.
These were properties where his two brothers and two key facilitators — the gang’s tech guru and head of logistics in Ireland — were lifted.
Later in the day, a sixth man who helped store drugs was also arrested, while six more individuals were lifted in Spain by cops over there.
Their use of the Ghost network had come back to haunt them — but not for the first time.
It was used by criminals globally to arrange their illegal activities as it was thought to be completely secure.
But global cops managed to hack the service in February 2024, giving them access to massive amounts of intel on the gangs who used Ghost.
KEPT UNDER WRAPS
Officers kept the infiltration under wraps until September 2024 — giving them months to act on the info while gangsters were clueless as to how they had been foiled.
By the stage the Ghost hack was made public, gardai had seized €22 million worth of cocaine and hundreds of thousands of cash linked directly to The Family and those working for it.
That did not include various seizures in recent months this year linked to the mob.
Gardai were able to make the busts thanks to the work of specialist officers who examined dozens of encrypted Ghost devices seized from members of the gang.
This difficult and technical work sees them break down coded language and put real names to usernames, allowing them to link Ghost messages to crims.
OTHER EVIDENCE
But when it came to The Family’s leader, investigators needed to get other evidence to match him to his messages, like his daily movements and CCTV.
Like other thugs high up the chain in OCGs, he was extremely careful at not giving too much away on the off chance the messages ever became public.
With The Family — who have gone on to dominate Ireland’s cocaine market after the Kinahans were wiped out here — it would be a first ever case in Ireland involving hacked encrypted messages if he is charged.
“He’s in big trouble, this is years of work and connections he has built blowing up in his face.”
An Irish Sun Source
But gardai remain confident of making charges stick.
They believe the leader is the sole director of the illicit business, with his two brothers helping with a number of key roles — including sourcing customers for their cocaine and heroin.
The top man is also suspected of ordering the gang’s Kildare tech guru — who supplied and helped them operate their Ghost devices — to wipe data after realising law enforcement intercepted the platform.
Gardai have placed the leader at meetings with other key figures who helped facilitate the gang, including their head of logistics in Ireland.
SECRET STASH
This Wexford man, in his 60s, took control of their drug importations when they landed here concealed in secret compartments of articulated lorries. He also organised for cash shipments out of the country.
The lorries were initially packed with cocaine in their EU HQ, a warehouse in the eastern Spanish city of Castellon, before they were driven to France and shipped here.
And sources said Ghost messages show just how The Family did all this.
One said: “This all relates to bringing drugs into this country, supplying smaller scale gangs, and money laundering their vast profits.
“The data that was gained from the Ghost network clearly puts this organisation at the centre of it. There has been a series of arrests and seizures in both Ireland and Spain that link back to the gang and the messages on the platform.”
DPP DECISION
While the Ghost network helped The Family operate under the radar for a long period over recent years, it might also lead them to be convicted in a court.
Ultimately, that decision rests with the DPP who is examining extensive files on each of the men after they were released from custody last week.
Another source told us: “Other arrests are likely in this probe. A huge amount of credit has to go to the gardai, but also to their international law enforcement partners.”
Since the beginning of their work with gardai, Spanish cops have severely thwarted the gang’s European op.
Last week’s arrests brought to 20 the number lifted in Spain over The Family.
