It was decided that the only way to seek revenge would be an eye for an eye. Gavin would have to be replaced as leader. It was decided that Freddie Thompson would step forward and take charge. ‘Fat’ Freddie was born on 16 December 1980. He lived on Loreto Road in Maryland, in Dublin’s south inner city, for most of his life. Thompson had twenty-seven previous criminal convictions for offences, ranging from road traffic incidents to public order offences and assault. Although he was just 5 ft 8" height, Thompson was a powerful and violent man who was a good fighter and often inflicted savage beatings for little or no reason. He also had ready access to lots of firearms. Despite the fact that Thompson was a ‘blow-in’ and didn’t come from Crumlin or Drimnagh, his no-nonsense nature and sheer aggression in relentlessly targeting Brian Rattigan and his gang meant that he was the unanimous choice as Gavin’s successor. From an early age Thompson sold newspapers on Clanbrassil Street, and was a familiar face to many local residents.
