Sean McGovern's partner remains in Dubai as senior Kinahan cartel member faces murder and gangland charges
The partner of senior Kinahan lieutenant Sean McGovern remains in Dubai under the watchful eye of his cartel associates, after the 39-year-old was extradited back to Ireland to face a murder and gangland charges.
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Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Clock is ticking on Kinahan cartel after Sean McGovern extradition'
The clock is ticking on the Kinahan crime cartel. The successful extradition of murder suspect Sean McGovern last week from Dubai was a major coup for the Gardai and the Government. The courts will decide whether McGovern is innocent or guilty, it is not up to me to decide. But the bottom line is after years on the run abroad, a key ally of the Kinahan family has been brought home in handcuffs and under armed guard to face the music. The big question is what does it mean for the crime family's leaders Christy Snr, Daniel and Christy Jnr? All three have been gone from Ireland for over two decades so it will be difficult to link them to any crimes here. They lived for many years in Marbella on the Costa del Sol and then fled to Dubai almost 10 years ago when the Spanish cops arrested them and started sniffing around their drug-running operations. As soon as they were released because of a lack of clear evidence, the Kinahan clan upped sticks and fled the Costa overnight to the gulf, buying plush homes and investing in various legitimate businesses in Dubai. The father and sons are still residing there with their families even though the eyes of the Gardai and various western intelligence services are on them around the clock. Their cause has also not been helped by a €15 million collective bounty being put on their heads by the Americans who regard them as serious international drug traffickers and want them extradited to the US to face charges there, no less. The more the net tightens on the Kinahans, the bolder they get. A small army of Russian bodyguards protect them around the clock in Dubai but they have also built close ties with both the Russian and Iranian Governments. They wouldn't be short of another bolthole if they decide to do another runner. The rulers of Dubai are a clever bunch and will do whatever is in their own and country's best interests. They wouldn't bat an eyelid about hanging the Kinahan family out to dry if they become too much of an embarrassment to the United Arab Emirates. So don't be one bit surprised if one of these days, you hear that the three Kinahan lads are nicked in the middle of the night and thrown in jail. Life in a Dubai slammer is not, by all accounts, very nice. McGovern, by all accounts, was relieved to get back to Ireland after being held for eight months in an Arab jail. The wardens don't pay too much respect to human rights. Everyone arrested is presumed guilty until proven otherwise. The Gardai have built up a huge file on the activities of the Kinahan crime family right across the globe and it is gone to our Director of Public Prosecutions. He must decide what charges he wants proffered against Christy Snr, Daniel and Christy Jnr before the state formally seeks their extradition. A total of 18 people were killed during the much heralded Kinahan-Hutch feud with 14 fatal casualties on the Hutch side. The Kinahans were able from abroad to pay an army of assassins to do their dirty work and take out many innocent members of the Hutch family who had no act or part in the assassination of Kinahan henchman David Byrne in the Regency Hotel shooting which caused the feud in the first place. But, from a legal point of view, it will be very difficult to prove and also almost impossible to charge any of the three with murder. I am sure the Irish authorities will go after them for operating and directing an organised crime gang and then they have to persuade the powers that be in Dubai that there is a case to answer. Relations between the Irish Government and the United Arab Emirates have improved no end recently. The extradition of McGovern would not have been possible a couple of years ago. Dubai traditionally has turned a blind eye to criminals living in the kingdom so long as they spend and invest plenty of money there and don't commit any crimes while in Dubai. Everything kind of runs on a nod and a wink and the Kinahans have largely kept their nose clean there. But knowing them, they will do everything in their power to stay one step ahead of the cops and use their wealth and influence to try and skip Dubai when they need to. If they are arrested and brought home to stand trial it will be some coup for the Gardai and the Government. Do not bet against it happening.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kinahan cartel associates hell-bent on revenge after Irish pub shooting in Spain
Associates of the Kinahan cartel are hell-bent on revenge after two senior members of their gang were shot dead in an Irish pub on the Costa del Sol, insiders fear. Underworld sources have told The Irish Mirror that they fear the deadly Lyons gang will now seek bloody revenge for the shock slaying of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr at a pub in Fuengirola near Malaga on Saturday night. The Lyons gang – one of Scotland's most deadly crime outfits – has been left reeling following the double murder as the pair watched the Champions League final at Monaghan's pub on Saturday night. Irish underworld sources say leaders of the gang are closely associated with mob boss Daniel Kinahan – and they will not let the killings go unanswered. "There will be hell to pay over this. The Lyons lads will not let this go," one source said. "They will be baying for blood and it is more likely to happen in Spain than anywhere else. That is the fear." We revealed yesterday that Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were key members of the gang that worked with Kinahan, 47, on the massive cocaine shipment that was seized by the Army Ranger Wing off the south coast almost two years ago. Underworld sources told us the gang the men worked for teamed up with the Kinahan cartel to organise the huge, 2.5 tonnes shipment of cocaine - worth up to €450 million on the streets - seized by the ARW on the MV Matthew off the Wexford coast in September 2023. Eight men have pleaded guilty over the MV Matthew plot - and are due to be sentenced at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin later this week. Sources say gardai are satisfied the killing of the two Scottish criminals outside a bar in Fuengirola was not connected to the MV Matthew haul - or the Kinahan cartel itself. Instead, they are believed to have been targeted as part of an ongoing feud between Scottish gangs. Now there are real fears that the simmering Scottish feud will erupt into more violence in Scotland. The pair were shot dead after watching the Champions League final at Monaghan's Pub in Fuengirola. A masked gunman jumped out of a vehicle at 11.30pm, fired several rounds at the entrance of the bar, striking one of the men in the chest and the other in the chest and abdomen. The gunman then fled in the same vehicle which was driven by an accomplice - leaving tourists and expats in the bar terrified. The shootings are linked to Scotland's ongoing gangland war which has seen attacks on homes and properties linked to Glasgow's Daniel crime clan. Harrowing images from the scene show a man lying lifeless on his back in shorts and a T-shirt, next to a chalkboard on a terrace outside the Irish bar. In other images, police and paramedics can be seen surrounding the body of one of the victims, thought to be the same man, after he was covered under a blanket as shocked locals and holidaymakers looked on. Monaghan was previously cleared of the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll, who was shot dead in a gangland assassination in the Asda Robroyston carpark in 2010. He was tried for the killing, but was acquitted in May 2012. He was also cleared of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the two guns used in the shooting and torching the getaway car. In August 2017, Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were both cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs. The brutal ambush left one of the victim's ears hanging off. However, the case collapsed after prosecutors withdrew the charges against them following two days of evidence. Monaghan had also survived a previous murder attempt. In 2017, he was shot by a gunman disguised as a pram-pushing dad outside St George's Primary School in Glasgow. Eddie Lyons Jnr was a key figure in his family's crime clan with his brother Steven Lyons now living in Dubai - where he is said to be close to Daniel Kinahan, who is holed up there with his father Christy, 67, and brother Christopher, 44. The shock Costa Del Sol killings come amidst a violent gang war that has been raging in Scotland since March. The feud first erupted following a fallout between rival gangsters after a €600k stash of cocaine was reportedly swiped from under the nose of Dubai-based Mr Big, Ross McGill. The drugs were reportedly taken by caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson's foot soldiers sparking a series of violent attacks on homes and businesses. McGill has waged war on Richardson and his associates, including the Daniel crime clan in Glasgow. Mr Big's enforcers, a faceless and frightening group going by the name of Tamo Junto (TMJ), have carried out a series of fire bombings and other vicious attacks on homes, businesses and cars associated with Richardson and the Daniel clan. Last week, it emerged that McGill had agreed to end hostilities after being leaned on by cartel bosses in Dubai. However gangland enforcers Tamo Junto (TMJ) quickly quashed any talk of peace as they vowed to continue to carry out the turf war.
Sunday World
20 hours ago
- Sunday World
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.
