Associates of mobster Mr Flashy may have armed themselves in fear of being attacked by a rival gang before being involved in a horrific motorbike smash.
The two men on the bike when it crashed in Finglas, Dublin, on Saturday night were left with serious injuries.
A handgun was also recovered from the scene of the smash.
One theory gardai are probing is that the men had the firearm as they feared being targeted by criminal enemies in West Dublin.
A car was found burnt out a short distance away from the scene of the crash but they have yet to ascertain whether it was involved in the collision.
The two young men are associates of Finglas thug Mr Flashy whose gang have been involved in a series of tit-for-tat feuds in recent years.
A source said: “It may well have been that they are carrying a gun around with them for protection against another gang in the West Dublin area.”
One of the young men is a close associate of slain David “Fred” Lynch who was shot dead in 2009 by crazed hitman Robbie Lawlor, himself killed in Belfast in April, 2020.
The youngster was injured in a shooting last year but survived.
Flashy’s waning power has left him and his mob vulnerable.
In March, the drug pusher was forced to pay a sum believed to be around €10,000, to dead Shane Fowler’s associates after his gang were involved in a feud with them.
He is also now relying on young teenagers to push his product and do his dirty work as his main men are behind bars.
Mohammed Smew was caged with Kinahan foot soldier Mark Capper for their roles in the cartel’s plot to whack Gerry “The Monk” Hutch’s brother Patsy in 2018.
Glen Thompson, another close pal of Flashy, is also in jail over the foiled Hutch hit.
