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Who Was Danny Greene?
Danny Greene, also known as “The Irishman,” was a notorious figure in organized crime. He established his own loan-sharking, gambling, and racketeering operation as a young adult and worked as a mob enforcer. Greene was seen as a threat by other crime figures due to his ambitions and willingness to compete for control over Cleveland’s criminal underworld. Some sources suggest Greene may have acted as an FBI informant, potentially explaining his frequent escapes from serious prosecution. He died in a car bombing in Lyndhurst, Ohio, in 1977.
Early Life
Daniel John Patrick Greene was born on November 14, 1933, in Cleveland, Ohio. His life was marked by early tragedy; his mother died shortly after his birth, and his father, unable to care for him, placed him in an orphanage. Greene grew up with a strong sense of Irish identity, which he expressed through his choice of clothing and even painting his union office green. Despite dropping out of high school, he served in the U.S. Marines and later worked as a longshoreman on Cleveland’s docks. Greene rose to become a union organizer and eventually the union boss.
Criminal History
Greene’s leadership tenure ended in scandal when he was forced to resign after embezzling union funds. Although charged, he avoided imprisonment, receiving only a $10,000 fine. Turning to organized crime, Greene became an enforcer for mobster Alex “Shondor” Birns. He soon established his own criminal operations, including loan-sharking and racketeering, which made him a formidable competitor. Greene reportedly took over parts of Birns’s territory during the latter’s incarceration and partnered with Teamster official John Nardi to expand his influence.
Speculation persists that Greene may have cooperated with the FBI, which some believe helped him avoid significant legal consequences despite his criminal activities.
Life in Jeopardy and Death
Greene survived multiple assassination attempts during his tumultuous career. One attack involved a bombing at his residence, from which he and his girlfriend narrowly escaped. In 1971, while jogging with his dogs, Greene defended himself by fatally shooting a would-be assassin. He was tried for manslaughter but acquitted. Greene often credited his survival to the “luck of the Irish.”
The Cleveland turf wars escalated, and Greene eliminated several rivals. In 1975, his former ally Alex Birns was killed by a car bomb. Ironically, Greene met the same fate on October 6, 1977, when a car bomb exploded in Lyndhurst, Ohio.
Legacy
Greene’s death led to a significant crackdown on organized crime in Cleveland, resulting in approximately 22 convictions. His story has been chronicled in books such as To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia by Rick Porrello, which inspired the 2011 film Kill the Irishman. The movie stars Ray Stevenson as Greene, alongside Christopher Walken and Vincent D’Onofrio.
Personal Life
Danny Greene was married twice and had five children. His eldest son, Danny Kelly, once described him as “truly intrepid,” remarking that Greene might have achieved political success had he chosen a different path.