Dublin crim outed as infamous 'Mr Flashy', and could be back on streets by 2027
Ward, 32, who has been named as the leader of the 'Gucci Gang' based in Finglas, North Dublin, is serving a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Portlaoise Prison.
Two weeks ago, he was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence for violent disorder during a daylight melee against a rival gang.
The media was not allowed to name him as 'Mr Flashy' over the years because he had only minor convictions.
This was despite him being named in the High Court as the gangster and the leader of the Kinahan-affiliated 'Gucci Gang' during the €1.7 million CAB case against Kinahan's top lieutenant Ross Browning in 2022.
But because he has now been convicted of gun charges in the Special Criminal Court and has no more charges before the courts, his street name and gang leadership role can be revealed.
His younger brother Eric O'Driscoll, 23, was also convicted of the same gun charges and was handed a five-year term.
They were jailed for possession of a .223 calibre Remington AR-15 semi-automatic rifle which was fired from the back door of a Finglas home during a house party. They both pleaded guilty to that offence.
One source told the Irish Mirror: 'Ward seems to be happy to have been outed as 'Mr Flashy' – it doesn't seem to bother him at all.
'For years, he couldn't be linked to being 'Mr Flashy' so now that it's out there, he seems to be fine about it all.'
We can also reveal that Ward could be back on the streets as early as 2027.
This is because he has been in custody since January last year and his sentence was backdated to include time spent in custody.
Ward is also expected to get a quarter off on remission or good behaviour and this could bring his release date to 2027.
One source said: 'It is likely it will be mid or near the end of 2027 that he will be released and back on the streets.'
At his sentencing hearing two weeks ago, when he was given a suspended sentence for violent disorder, Ward's defence barrister told the court the gangster had previously worked as a mechanic – and 'hopes to get back to that' on his release.
The court also heard he works out daily in the prison gym and 'is keeping his head down'.
Gardai say the Gucci Gang were involved in street-level organised crime and drug dealing and had links to transnational organised crime groups at the highest levels. The High Court was told it got this name 'due to their penchant for designer clothes and jewellery'.
The Chief CAB Officer said the gang has been involved in murderous feuds with rivals over control of the drugs trade and named its leader.
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