A full circle moment, it seems. Michael J. Spillane Jr, the son of Irish mobster Mickey Spillane, was busted for punching a dog-walker in Hell’s Kitchen, which is the same New York City neighborhood that his dad ruled in the 1970s.
According to the criminal complaint, the 60-year-old man slugged the stranger outside of the Mediterranean wine bar Kashkaval Garden around 7:37 p.m. on February 21, 2024. Spillane pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment and was released after appearing at the Manhattan Criminal Court for his arraignment.
The incident occurred when the dog-walker asked for him and his dogs to get by Spillane and a group he was with, which was blocking the way. Spillane reportedly attempted to trip the man, which led to a fight.
Spillane allegedly threw the first punch. The victim did sustain injuries, but none life-threatening. Both parties face charges.
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Spillane has no criminal record. The court proceedings are set to continue on April 29, 2024. People reacted to the news on X (formerly known as Twitter).
"It's destiny," one user commented.
"What is going on in NY?" another person questioned.
Spillane owns Mickey Spillane's, which is a bar named after his late father. The bar is located about six blocks south on Ninth Avenue. Mickey ruled the neighborhood as head of the Irish American mob in the 1960s and '70s.
Mickey was known as the last "Gentleman Ganger." He opposed drug dealing and refused to be associated with the Italian mafia. He was gunned down in 1977 by the rival "Westies."
"My dad was a serious man," Spillane said in a 2016 interview. "Back when he was in business, he worked with a lot of labor unions and they controlled most of the docks. Then the Italian branch of the mob tried to dominate everything. And if it wasn't for men like my dad, there would be no Irish unions."
Spillane is the eldest of three children. His brother, Bobby Spillane, was an actor who died when fell from his sixth-floor apartment in 2010. Jim McManus, Spillane's uncle, expressed that his death was a "terribly sad accident."
"He was the nicest kid in the world," he said. "He helped everyone."
Bobby Spillane, who had one arm in a sling at the time, reportedly leaned on the screen of an open window to call out to his brother, Michael, who was on a street below. The screen collapsed and Bobby Spillane fell six floors.
"The screen gave out. He only had one arm and he went out with the screen," McManus said.
