The Irish Mob is one of the oldest organized crime groups in the United States. Existence of the Irish Mob has been tied back to the 19th century and has appeared in most major U.S. cities. During the 20th century the Irish Mob was a major influence on culture and many gangster movies featuring notorious Irish mobsters. Throughout the years the Irish Mob struggled after their golden age declined, under competition from the Italian families that began to rise. Irish gangs became less necessary, neighborhoods no longer needed the protection from these gangs and could live peacefully on their own.
History of the O’Leary Mob
Patrick O'Leary, Circa 1994 |
Although business for the crew in Kensington was running smoothly, there was not enough potential to grow. Higher council members of the Kensington crew deemed it fit to spread business elsewhere, linking heroin trafficking routes to New York, Montreal, and Los Santos. O’Leary’s crew had control over the construction union and trucking routes in the city of Kensington. This allowed the crew to raise the amount of money they were raking in.
In 2005 O’Leary’s crew moved to Los Santos to gain more ground and increase the business for the organization. There was already a few known Irish-American mobs that set foot in Los Santos prior to O’Leary’s group, such as the Coonan Mob and The Long Beach Mob. Ties to the Kensington crew were cut in 2011, after the Philadelphia group seemed to disperse with some members being killed due to inner-faction conflict and others being sent away to prison.
Foundation of the Mob
The foundations of The O’Leary Mob are tied back to the crew in Kensington, Philadelphia. In April of 1994, O’Leary was second-in-command of the notorious Philadelphia crew that controlled the criminal underworld of Kensington. O’Leary had a lot of pull of what went on with the various rackets that the group controlled. Cocaine, heroin, gambling, and burglary were all strong suits for O’Leary’s men.
For the next six years things ran smoothly in Philadelphia for the group, feeling as if they were on top of the world at one point in time. Corrigan and O’Leary had no troubles and seemed to steer clear of both the media and law enforcement with all eyes being drawn to that of the Italian mafia. News reporters, children, adults, and law enforcement had an obsession with those of which were of Italian decent and that allowed Corrigan and O’Leary’s men to fly under the radar for the time being.
2001 poised a real problem for the group, both externally and internally. With inner-conflict brewing due to disputes and arguments, this also brought eyes from law enforcement onto the group. Frank Mullen was a long-time member of the organization who stood for what Corrigan and O’Leary believed in, that’s what it seemed so anyway. Mullen had an outburst at a meeting that was hosted for all members of the organization in June of 2001. Mullen disagreed with Corrigan’s plans for the future of the organization and decided to call his own shots for him and his men. A feud began which brought out a very violent year for the organization, over fifteen murders and attention from the police landed another four men in prison. After the feud ended, it left Corrigan’s men in shambles and business at an all-time low. With heat being brought to the group and information being leaked via police investigations, the system had to be changed.
Jason Callaghan, Circa 2005 |
Burns Avenue, Los Santos
In what was a great start to O’Leary’s entrance to Los Santos, it didn’t go without problems. Burns Avenue in eastern Los Santos was a predominantly Irish-American neighborhood at the time, with other Irish neighborhoods boarding it to the north and further east. An influx of Hispanic gangs gave the crew some trouble during 2007-2008, with small feuds over turf and drug trafficking. Hispanic gangsters wanted full control over the heroin and cocaine market at the time, which brought the worst out of O’Leary. The well-known ‘Attica Bar’ on Burns Avenue was set aflame in 2008, tearing the cherished establishment to pieces. This was an act of war and put O’Leary and his men into motion to settle the dispute.
Daniel Kavanagh, Circa 2008 |
Modern Day Mob
Today the group is led by Jason Callaghan, nephew of Patrick O’Leary. With most Irish-American groups being flushed out due to conflict, murder, and prison, it leaves Callaghan with a new beginning. The Coonan Mob, The Long Beach Mob, and The J. Avenue Mob were all undoubtedly strong figures in the Irish-American mob scene for years. With a new structure the group is said to have picked up where it left off, leaving all the aftermath of conflict behind them. Business as usual, the group began picking up again in early 2014 after a rough start in late 2009-early 2010. The spotlight has moved onto other organizations in the Los Santos underworld, giving the O’Leary Mob a chance to re-evaluate future endeavors.
In recent times the figure-heads of the O'Leary Mob have had their hands in various activities surrounding the criminal underworld in Los Santos. Jason Callaghan runs a tight knit crew as of late 2016 which carries itself through both illegal and legal means. With the creation of this Los Santos outfit, it brings plenty of new conflicts along with many business opportunities. Daniel Kavanagh has been a long time friend of Jason Callaghan's, being brought in under him back in Philadelphia. The duo are the only remaining factor that ties this group back to the Kensington crew that once was a powerhouse in its own right.
Known Fronts
The Pig Pen 101 Felton Avenue, East Los Santos |
Sully's Pub 89-B 54th Street, East Los Santos |
As of early 2018, Sully's Pub was re-opened by Jack Lonergan. It was restored and had its grand re-opening in January where all members of the Irish community could return to their favorite pub. To this day the pub still operates on 54th Street and attracts people from all over Los Santos. 54th Street seems to have a stronger presence of people these days, with a neighborly atmosphere.
The Muddy Farmer 37-B Elm Street, East Los Santos |
Reemergence
WHERE HAVE THE IRISH GONE?
By Arthur Jones | October 1st, 2017
In June 2017, the O'Leary organization had been under-going internal changes. As most of the leadership took set-backs in day-to-day life, backing away from mainstream operations, illegal rackets, etc. Jason Callaghan, Daniel Kavanagh, and Owen Fanning separated from that of the rest of the group, to ensure their safety from law enforcement operations at the time. The trio was said to head their own tight-knit crew with no real figure-head at the time. Jason Callaghan grew older and lost his interest and time at the head of the organization, and sits back in an advisory role to the other two. As for the rest of the group, Darcy Hagan was found dead around the Ocean Docks area in early 2017. Law enforcement believe it was either a narcotics/weapons deal gone south, or an inside job done by the organization itself. At the current time, the investigation is still open and pending within the Los Santos Police Department's Detective Bureau. Other notable members, such as Robert Faulkner and Thomas Sullivan were said to venture off on their own terms of business. Faulkner split to make a new crew in and around the same area, with his own business ideas and opportunities in the criminal underworld. As for Sullivan, the world wasn't so kind and he found himself locked up for a murder charge that landed him twenty-five (25) years.
There is no explanation for how things will turn out for this group now as times have changed, businesses have closed and history is now in the books. The group has said to try and re-claim territory they once ran and re-unite with fellow organizations they once did business with for years. It's a hard job to muscle your way back into the criminal underworld as things constantly change, power changes hand, and money is constantly moving. If anyone has a shot at getting back into the game with a ruling fist, it is the workings of this crew.