The polite dad who became evil drug dealer...

Mob boss with one of Ireland's biggest empires

- JOHN HAND

HE WAS the mob boss who was afraid to make eye contact with gardai.

The anxiety-ridden dad-of-two who sent “head the balls” and “Dirty Harrys” to threaten the vulnerable families of addicts who owed him money – including rapist Mark “The Guinea Pig” Desmond.

Detectives who investigated mob boss Barry Young say he was the “most unlikely character” to become one of the country’s leading drug dealers.

Polite and personable but also almost too shy at times to look gardai in the eye around his native Sligo over the years.

One former senior investigator told us: “He was always clean cut, well spoken and respectful.

“His personal character didn’t ever match what he actually did day-to-day.

“If you were to say 20 years ago that he would reach the level he did, I’d never believe it.”

Another major gangster in Sligo is Patrick Irwin, who was vicious in his dealings over the years.

The former cop explained: “People were terrified of Patrick Irwin.

“But no one was afraid of Barry Young. He was the most unlikely character to reach the heights he did.”

GUILTY

After more than two decades in the game, Young is facing a life sentence after pleading guilty to directing a 20-strong criminal gang, putting an end to his underworld career.

A sentencing hearing this week at the Special Criminal Court revealed how a Garda investigation linked over €600,000 worth of drug seizures back to Young.

But sources point out that they were only the stashes detected.

He also had €40,000 in ready cash despite his only legitimate income being social welfare.