Steven Gerrard sends birthday message to son of Irish drug cartel boss who’s rumoured to be dating his daughter Lilly-Ella

Steven Gerrard sent a birthday message to the son of an Irish drug cartel boss who is allegedly dating his daughter, Lilly-Ella.

The former Liverpool star and current manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq reached out to Lee Byrne in an Instagram post on Tuesday to wish him a happy 24th birthday. 

Lee is the son of Liam Byrne – the head of a drug cartel’s operations in Britain and Ireland – who Steven has previously been seen partying with.

Sharing a picture of Lee with Lilly-Ella on his Instagram Story, Steven wrote: ‘Happy birthday mate, have a boss day [heart emoji].’

Lilly-Ella also shared a snap of the pair together, writing: ‘Happy birthday Lee, hope your birthday is as special as you [three heart emojis] My number 1’. 

Message: The former Liverpool star and current manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq reached out to Lee Byrne in an Instagram post on Tuesday to wish him a happy 24th birthday

Steven was previously seen on a video partying with Irish gangster Liam in mobile phone footage speaking to a fan on a video call.

In the video Liam offered to organise a dinner between them and Gerrard, while the legendary midfielder says he will get him to a game with the Reds.

The video emerged on the same day Lilly-Ella’s alleged relationship with Lee was made public. 

In a series of snaps, shared to Instagram, the young duo recharged whilst getting hooked up to a vitamin drip, with Lee’s face shielded by his cap. 

Heading out for the night to enjoy the island’s famous nightlife they commissioned an artist to draw a hilarious caricature before flying home on a luxurious private jet. 

Lee has no involvement in the criminal underworld and was previously dating influencer Daisey O’Donnell, before they split last year. 

Liam is a top target for Irish police investigating the alleged activities of the Kinahan cartel and a gang named in the High Court as the Byrne Organised Crime Group, of which he is at the head.

Steven Gerrard has no involvement in crime and there is no suggestion he has any knowledge of criminal activities. 

Couple? Lilly-Ella also shared a snap of the pair together, writing: ‘Happy birthday Lee, hope your birthday is as special as you [three heart emojis] My number 1’

Liam allegedly became Daniel Kinahan’s right-hand man in Britain after his brother-in-law Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh was jailed in 2019 for possession of a stun gun.

He fled Ireland after the Garda Criminal Assets Bureau seized millions of pounds worth of his wealth in 2019.

The CAB has also seized dozens of high-powered vehicles, jewellery, bank accounts and Byrne’s Raleigh Square home in Crumlin, which was apparently fitted with a panic room and Jacuzzi.

Gardai are still investigating the alleged activities of the most senior members of the Kinahan cartel after jailing many of their lieutenants in recent years.

Those jailed include Byrne’s cousin ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson, who is serving life for helping to carry out the gangland murder of David ‘Daithi’ Douglas in inner Dublin in 2016.

Liam’s brother David Byrne was also shot dead in Dublin’s Regency Hotel in February 2016 – a brutal murder that greatly escalated the so-called Kinahan Hutch feud.

Under Operation Lamp, officers targeted £2.3million worth of assets including four homes worth £1.7million, 29 vehicles (£467,195), six designer watches (£71,910), two rings (£25,733), a bank account containing £31,563 and £29,912 in cash.

As part of their investigations, CAB investigators claimed Liam was at the ‘very top tier’ of organised crime in Ireland.

In June it was reported that Liam was arrested while eating at a restaurant in Spain.

He had flown to Palma Airport from Dubai on May 26, and was held on a UK extradition warrant. 

The arrest came days after Jack Kavanagh, 22, a suspected Kinahan member, was held by officers from the Spanish National Police at Malaga Airport while transiting from Dubai to Turkey

Kay Mellor, from the National Crime Agency, said: ‘This investigation is part of the NCA’s ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group.

‘Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.

‘We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide.’

Arrested: Liam Byrne is the head of a drug cartel’s criminal operations in Britain and Ireland