Sean McGovern ‘relieved' to be back in Ireland after eight months in Dubai jail
The Kinahans are 'not panicking' over McGovern's extradition
Senior Kinahan gang member Sean McGovern was 'relieved' to be extradited back to Ireland after spending eight months in prison in Dubai.
A source involved in his 'complicated and secretive' extradition said gardaí believed he was being returned home on a couple of other occasions in recent months, only for legal issues to arise at the last minute.
The 39-year-old Dubliner is one of cartel leader Daniel Kinahan's closest confidants. The leadership of the Kinahan cartel, including Daniel, his father Christy Sr and brother Christopher Jr, remain in Dubai.
The Kinahans are 'not panicking' over McGovern's extradition and 'have no plans to flee Dubai', according to garda intelligence.
'They've no plans to flee, and if they did, we would be able to find them because of international co-operation,' a source said.
Gardaí are awaiting a direction from the DPP on whether Daniel Kinahan and other members of his family should face a range of criminal charges, including leadership of an organised crime gang.
Sean McGovern
News in 90 seconds - June 2nd
The state prosecutor has been considering an extensive garda file on Daniel Kinahan and other senior cartel members for two years.
'It could be a good sign there is no direction yet. It means the DPP is very thoroughly looking at it,' the source said.
As first reported in the Sunday World last year, the proposed extradition of McGovern was seen as a 'test case' for plans to eventually attempt to return Daniel Kinahan to Ireland to face charges.
The source pointed out that navigating the extradition process for McGovern would prove 'very helpful' if gardaí make attempts to extradite Daniel Kinahan.
'The extradition process for Sean McGovern was challenging. Due process had to take place, which meant a lot of legal issues had to be overcome,' the source said.
A good relationship was developed with authorities in the United Arab Emirates and there was a significant amount of help from Interpol on this case too, but it was a secretive process and very different to our own.'
Armed gardaí outside courts ahead of the appearance of Sean McGovern last Thursday. Photo: PA
It is understood gardaí did not receive regular updates on developments in Dubai in relation to McGovern's planned extradition and instead 'had to trust the process'.
Meanwhile, the father-of-two's journey home on a military aircraft that made a number of stops en route passed off without incident.
McGovern's partner and the mother of his two children is expected to return to Ireland from Dubai.
McGovern, formerly of Kildare Road, Crumlin, is the most senior member of the Kinahan crime group to be charged before the Irish courts.
Sean MCGovern and Anita Freeman
He appeared in the Special Criminal Court last Thursday evening, shortly after arriving in Ireland. He is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan (62) at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin, on December 22, 2016.
Kirwan was shot dead as he sat in his car with his partner in the driveway of her home. He was not involved in the feud, but was targeted after being spotted beside Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch at a funeral.
McGovern is also charged with directing a criminal organisation involved in the conspiracy to murder a rival gangster.
The alleged offences were carried out as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud, which claimed up to 18 lives in Ireland and abroad.
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