Senior Kinahan Cartel member Sean McGovern charged with murdering Dublin grandfather Noel Kirwan in Dublin court
The alleged offences were carried out as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud which claimed up to 18 lives both in Ireland and abroad.
McGovern, formerly of Kildare Road in Crumlin, is the most senior member of the Kinahan crime group to be charged before the Irish courts.
A significant security operation was in place at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street with more than 40 gardaí, including senior investigators and armed detectives, present for the hearing.
The father-of-two was arrested earlier today after stepping off a military plane at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell, west Dublin, that had brought him under garda escort from the United Arab Emirates.
Detective Sergeant Donal Daly gave evidence of arresting the accused for the purposes of charging him and explained that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) certified that he should be charged before the non-jury court.
The defence counsel said at the outset of the hearing that they were reserving their position in relation to the lawfulness of his arrest and the jurisdiction of the court.
Sean McGovern is accused of the feud murder of Noel Kirwan (62) at St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on December 22, 2016.
The grandfather, known as 'Duck Egg', was shot dead as he sat in his car with his partner in the driveway of her home.
Mr Kirwan was not involved in the feud but was targeted after being spotted beside Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch at a funeral.
McGovern is further accused of directing the activities of a criminal organisation in relation to Mr Kirwan's murder from October 20 to December 22, 2016.
He is also charged with enhancing the abilities of a crime gang to carry out that murder between the same dates within the state.
The court heard that Sean McGovern also faces two additional charges relating to a plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, an associate of the Hutch gang, more than eight years ago.
He is charged with both directing a crime gang to carry out surveillance of Gately, and facilitating a criminal organisation relating to the conspiracy to murder Gately between October 17 2015, and April 6, 2017.
The maximum penalty on conviction for directing a crime gang is life imprisonment, while McGovern faces the mandatory life sentence if found guilty of Mr Kirwan's murder.
The accused appeared with a shaved head, wearing a grey t-shirt and grey tracksuit bottoms, socks and sandals.
He only addressed the court to say 'yes' when asked if he was Sean McGovern.
No application for bail was made as this can only be sought before the High Court on charges of murder or organised crime offences.
Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, remanded McGovern in custody and he is due to appear before the court again on June 5.
A garda spokesperson earlier today said McGovern had "been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice'.
"An Garda Síochána has developed major international partnerships in our efforts to target transnational organised crime groups.
"Our relationship with authorities across the world including with the Ministry of Justice at judicial level in the United Arab Emirates, and on a police-to-police basis, is valued and one which we will continue to develop. This relationship has been supported by Irish governmental and diplomatic efforts'.
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Extra.ie
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