Hitman Caolan Smyth was dubbed one of Ireland's most stupid criminals following a series of embarrassing mistakes that made him well-known to Gardai.
The 28-year-old - who shot Kinahan cartel target James 'Mago' Gately five times - was found guilty of attempted murder by the non-jury Special Criminal Court last Tuesday.
Gately made a miraculous escape after being sprayed in the upper body near Dublin Airport in May 2017.
The 32-year-old escaped with his life thanks to a bulletproof vest and an off-duty nurse who happened to be at the scene.
And it has emerged the feared enforcer Smyth hilariously came on the Gardai's radar for other reasons before the brutal shooting according to The Irish Daily Star.
On one occasion, the alleged assassin was once caught siphoning diesel...to put into his petrol car before he was nabbed by Gardai which his car's engine was surely thankful for.
Mr Gately was shot five times while he sat at the Topaz filling station on Clonshaugh Road on May 10, 2017.
A three-judge court found it was beyond reasonable doubt that Caolan Smyth was both driver and gunman in the attack.
Smyth of Cuileann Court, Donore, Co Meath, had pleaded not guilty to Mr Gately's attempted murder.
The prosecution had argued there was "no other conclusion" than Smyth being the man who "pulled the trigger", while the court also heard that Smyth had put Mr Gately under surveillance the day before and on the morning of the shooting.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that the case against Smyth was beyond any reasonable doubt that he took part in what was intended to be an "organised murder".
He will reappear before the Special Criminal Court at the end of January for sentencing.
