Kinahan gangster Sean McGovern extradited to Ireland from Dubai as he is set to be charged with murder of Noel Kirwan
Kinahan cartel gangster Sean McGovern is set to be charged with the murder of an innocent granddad as he became the first Irishman to be extradited from Dubai.
The 39-year-old Dubliner, who has been subject to an arrest warrant since April 2022, failed in his bid to halt proceedings against him after his arrest in the UAE in October last year.
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Sean McGovern was arrested on foot of an Interpol 'red notice'
Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin
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McGovern is Daniel Kinahan's advisor and closest confidant
The Irish Sun understands he is being flown back to
The major operation involved investigators from the
McGovern is due to be formally arrested by gardai when he lands and appear at the Special Criminal
Mr Kirwan, who gardai have confirmed had absolutely no involvement in
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It is also understood McGovern faces other charges in relation to feud activity, including directing a criminal organisation.
In court, he will be asked to confirm his name with the registrar, who will then read the charges to him.
McGovern is now the
first Irishman to be extradited from the UAE following a treaty being signed between its authorities and the Irish Government.
The major security operation to bring him back to Ireland is the biggest since Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch was returned back to Dublin from Spain in September 2021.
Most read in Irish News
McGovern was lifted in Dubai last year, after a European Arrest Warrant was issued for him in April 2022.
On that occasion, the US Treasury announced sanctions on the leaders of the cartel, including
Devastated daughter slams Kinahan quartermaster for 'destroying' family as role in innocent grandad's murder revealed
However McGovern was arrested on foot of an Interpol 'red notice', which is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
McGovern, born on February 12, 1986, is originally from Crumlin and was close pals with brothers David and Liam Byrne.
On the day David Byrne was blasted to death at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, McGovern was also wounded with a bullet to his leg.
That infamous shooting, orchestrated by the Hutch gang, ignited the feud which saw the
NEVER RETURNED
In mid-2017, as gardai got an upper hand on the cartel and its activities, McGovern left for Dubai where the Kinahan cartel hierarchy had based themselves.
McGovern never returned, even missing his own father's funeral.
He also lost his home on the Kildare road in Crumlin after a
After Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh was put behind bars in 2019, McGovern stepped up as the cartel's No2 in command.
In April 2022, the US Treasury hit the cartel with sanctions and said: "McGovern is Daniel Kinahan's advisor and closest confidant, and evidence indicates that all dealings with Daniel Kinahan go through Sean McGovern.
"Sean McGovern also has managed communications on behalf of Daniel Kinahan, and he sells multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine."
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Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan was murdered in December 2016
Credit: Collect
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McGovern was lifted in Dubai last year
Credit: AFP - Getty
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