Gardaí believe they have foiled a Hutch/Kinahan feud murder after they caught a suspect with a loaded gun, silencer and mask yesterday.

The 39-year-old man and a woman in her 30s were arrested in Ashtown, Dublin at 5pm on Wednesday.

Detectives believe the arrested man, a close associate of a female Hutch family member, was on his way to carry out a hit after they discovered a loaded handgun with a silencer, a canister of petrol and a mask in the vehicle.

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The Herald is reporting that the arrested man is the chief suspect in a city murder a decade ago.

He is suspected of shooting Finglas criminal Kevin Ledwidge (27), who was gunned down outside his family home in July 2007.

However, gardaí were unable to gather enough evidence to secure a conviction in the case.

Last night's hit was foiled after local gardaí stopped a car in Rathbourne Village, Ashtown, in a planned operation.

"A man and woman were arrested at the scene," a Garda spokesman said.

"They are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 at Finglas Garda Station."

Detectives are now trying to establish the target but sources say they are confident that an associate of the Kinahan cartel was to be shot.

The bloody feud has so far claimed 12 lives, with several hits also prevented in the last 20 months.

The latest feud victim was Michael Keogh (37), who was shot dead in an underground car park on Dorset Street on May 31.

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Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll, who is in charge of Special Crime Operations, recently claimed that 40 hits had been prevented by gardaí.

He also said organised criminals were enjoying easy access to firearms.

"There was an expectation when a particular feud between two gangs began that there were going to be numerous murders over a period of time," he said.

"But instead what has happened is we have an ever-increasing number, in the region of about 40 incidents, where we have prevented loss of life and where that has involved the seizure of firearms and the charging of people."

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