The Sunday Tribune has learned that major retaliation is being planned against leading members of the DundonMcCarthy gang, who are presently imprisoned in Mountjoy jail.

It is understood that associates of brothers John and Gerard Dundon . . . who are major figures in the Limerick city gang . . . have become embroiled in a series of violent tit-for-tat attacks against one of the most feared Dublin criminals, Michael Cahill, brother of the murdered 'General' Martin Cahill.

Michael Cahill has 26 convictions for offences including possession of drugs, robbery and assault. Cahill was attacked and badly injured in an incident in Mountjoy jail just weeks ago, and it is believed that the planned attack is in reprisal by criminals aligned to him.

"Associates of Cahill . . . who nobody has ever dared touch before . . . and the guys who carried out the attack on him have connections outside among the most volatile gangs in both cities. The reaction to these incidents point to one thing . . .

an unprecedented series of planned killings in revenge, " one well-placed prison service source told the Sunday Tribune this weekend.