Tom Devaney was a New York mobster and an enforcer to Mickey Spillane

Mickey Spillane (gangster)

Michael Spillane, much better known as Mickey Spillane , was an Irish-American mobster from Hell's Kitchen, New York City...

 during the 1960s and 70s. As Spillane's chief lieutenant, Devaney played a leading role in the growing animosity between Spillane and the Genovese crime family

Genovese crime family

The Genovese crime family , is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The Genovese crime family has been nicknamed the "Ivy League" and "Rolls Royce" of organized crime...

 as well as the gang war against James Coonan

James Coonan

James "Jimmy C" Coonan is an Irish-American mobster and racketeer from Manhattan, New York who is currently serving a 75-year prison term.-Biography:...

.

Sullivan observed Devaney for eight weeks, then disguised himself with an afro wig and skin dye, followed Devaney into a bar-and-grill in Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...

and shot him in the head. Tommy Devaney was an exhibition worker on the West Side who was murdered by George Barone because "he was interfering with us" as George told prosecutor in court. Barone got only an assist for that slaying, which was carried out by a gunman named Joe "Mad Dog" Sullivan, who shot Devaney as he sipped a cold beer in a midtown bar after attending a wake across the street.

Devaney's death marked the beginning of the end for Spillane's operation. Spillane himself was murdered the following year.