Fresh ‘overhaul' probe of drug gang The Family's financial web as ‘brute' gang leader stays under radar in Dublin estate
THE Criminal Assets Bureau is scrutinising a forensic accountant's report into the finances of Ireland's top drug trafficking gang, we can reveal.
Pressure continues to mount on The Family mob, while specialist gardai press on hammering the
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Cops lift a member of The Family mob
Credit: Garda Press Office Handout
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Members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB)
Credit: Garda Press Office Handout
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Police nab suspected drug traffickers
Credit: Europol
But despite repeated blows at the hands of the Garda National Drugs and Organised
However, investigators suspect that the
The GNDOCB quizzed a number of the life-long drug dealers for directing the activities of an organised crime gang following a series of raids in late March.
It came on the back of a major international investigation, which saw the takedown of the encrypted Ghost network — used by senior members of The Family to organise millions of euro worth of cocaine and heroin shipments from
READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS
The mob has dominated Ireland's cocaine market since the
And they continue their trade with heroin, which they have been doing for over two decades.
But investigators continue to plough on in their investigations, with
The Irish Sun on Sunday has learned the bureau is examining The Family's
MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN
A source told The Irish Sun on Sunday: 'When you're dealing with a transnational organised crime gang like this, which is well-structured in a way to protect those at the very top of it, every possible avenue to tackle them has to be taken.
'That's what is happening here. And the overall investigation into The Family has made huge strides in the last 18 months.
Moment US authorities announce they're offering a $5m bounty for information about Daniel Kinahan
'
'It takes massive resources and a prolonged period of time to unravel these organisations.
GHOST NETWORK TAKEDOWN
'But with the Ghost network takedown and other work put in so far in terms of various seizures, establishing how the gang operate their money laundering side of the business and other various factors, gardai have made huge progress.'
The beefed-up leader of The Family once shied away from violence — because of the heat it drew to his business from gardai.
The change of tack in adding murder and brute force to its arsenal to stay on top of the underworld industry in recent years is how they've placed themselves as the GNDOCB's number one target.
Just before last Christmas, its associates were intercepted on their way to kill a close associate of murder victim Cormac Berkeley, who the gang took out in 2022.
After the leader was quizzed by gardai this year, he is suspected of ordering an arson attack on vehicles linked to a man who was allegedly caught transporting millions of euro worth of his cocaine.
STAYING UNDER THE RADAR
Such violence and intimidation, which has only spurred gardai on further to take the gang down, has placed even more media attention on the gang leader.
He, unlike cartel leader
He lives in a modest semi on an estate in
Another source said: 'This guy is a brute and dangerous. He hates the attention on him and his gang because it affects business.
'But greed and his need to assert power put him in that situation.' As part of the investigation, gardai believe he had a hands-on role in directing and overseeing at least nine drug trafficking and money laundering operations last year.
When he was quizzed in March, his two brothers who sit directly below him in the group, two key facilitators and a man who stored drugs on his behalf were also lifted.
One of the associates is the mob's tech guru, in his 40s from
MILLIONS WORTH OF COCAINE
Another is their head of logistics in Ireland, a man said to be in his 60s from
After Europol disabled Ghost, detectives here seized €22million worth of cocaine and hundreds of thousands in cash — directly linked to The Family.
Spanish police have also lifted 20 associates linked to The Family over the past 12 months and seized items to the value of over €1million.
Those associated with The Family who have been jailed include Paul Bourke, 56, from
Another is Hungarian pilot Zoltan Nemeth, 63, who flew €8.4million of heroin into Ireland in 2023.
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Irish and Spanish law enforcement authorities took decisive action against one of Ireland's high-risk criminal networks
Credit: Europol
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Daniel Kinahan
Credit: The Sun
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The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Transparency or 'cover-up': Gardaí face Sophie's Choice when tackling fake news online
This is a preview of this month's edition of The Journal's monthly FactCheck newsletter, which looks at what misinformation is being shared right now and points at trends in factchecking. Find out more and sign up here or at the bottom of the page. THE FIGHT AGAINST misinformation can sometimes be Sophie's Choice. Police reactions to separate incidents in Carlow and Liverpool over the past week have shown that quashing false rumours can be made so much easier with transparency. But the ability of bad-faith actors on social media to twist the facts means that providing more information about the perpetrators of attacks on the public mean that more traps may lie in wait in future. At around 6.15pm on Sunday evening, 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald opened fire at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow before he inflicted fatal injuries on himself. It was a shocking, unprecedented incident by the standards of Ireland in 2025 – but also one which saw a bleakly familiar response take shape on social media within minutes of the first reports of a shooting emerging. Before anyone knew what had happened, there was a surge of misinformation, including claims that: seven people had been shot ; a 9-year-old girl had been shot in the leg ; the gunman was shot dead by gardaí ; he had an explosive device strapped to his leg ; and that he was an Islamic terrorist . But what happened next was a bit more unorthodox. The Garda Press Office issued four press releases over the next 24 hours which provided a full picture of what happened , including a precise timeline of events, the extent of injuries (including to a young girl), and – most notably – a description of the perpetrator as a 'white adult Irish male' on Sunday night. It was unusually direct by the standards of the Garda press office, which tends only to offer the most basic details around crimes, in part out of sensitivity towards victims and their families. The decision followed a similar move by police in Merseyside less than a week previously, after a man drove into a crowd of football fans celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title win in the city. Advertisement The incident in Liverpool saw the same kind of misinformation spread as in Carlow , with false claims that the ramming was a terrorist attack and that the suspect was a person of colour being shared on social media. As happened in the aftermath of the shooting in Carlow, the police moved quickly and said the suspect was a 53-year-old white man from the Liverpool area. In both instances, the change in tactics appears to derive from almost identical hard lessons from recent history. The Dublin riots in November 2023 were fuelled by a deluge of speculation about the identity and motive of the man who carried out a knife attack at a school near Parnell Square. The Southport riots last year in England followed the same grim pattern, when far-right groups seized on speculation about the identity and motive of the man who fatally stabbed three children. Both instances were preceded by hours of silence from police and officialdom, which created an information vacuum in which speculation and conspiracy theories were able to take hold. On each occasion, speculation dampened much more quickly after both police forces provided additional information about the background of the perpetrators. Not only did this have the effect of preventing information contagion around one of the biggest news events of the year, it also made bad actors on social media look like fools for speculating so freely. The strategy denied bad actors the ability to hijack the narrative and acknowledged a basic truth about modern social media: in the absence of facts, fiction will flourish. But although it worked this time around, it's a tricky strategy that's not without its downsides. Several far-right accounts online accused Gardaí and Merseyside Police of being 'too quick' to say that the suspects in Carlow and Liverpool were white locals, with the implication that this was an act of political messaging rather than public clarity. The next time a similar major incident occurs and Gardaí or British police don't — or can't — release identifying information about the suspect(s), it's easy to see how the decision not to do so will be seized upon. The public may take the lack of information as confirmation that the suspect is foreign or non-white, and may end up believing bad actors or others who are speculating about what has happened. Related Reads Man who fired shots in Carlow shopping centre named locally as 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald Former head of Counter Terrorism for the UK, Neil Basu told the News Agents podcast that transparency is needed for police to respond in the age of social media. 'The best position policing can come to is a standard position where they give the maximum amount of information they can,' he said. 'I think what was more important in Southport was the allegations of cover-up, as though people were trying to suppress something.' This is exactly what played out in Carlow before gardaí issued their series of statements: people online suggested that the gunman's body was being covered for nefarious reasons, rather than the operational issues that are usually present in such cases. At its core, the issue is more of a problem with online platforms than with the police. Gardaí and police in the UK are simply reacting to the situation created by social media companies, who allow false claims to spread unchecked in the moments after a crisis. Large social media platforms, not police, are ultimately responsible for hosting unreliable accounts that can present themselves as media outlets or pay for verification on a platform like X, which enables them to appear more credible than they are. It is easy to see how misinformation takes hold when paid-for but unreliable accounts frame speculation and misinformation through the language of legitimate journalists, claiming they have received 'tips', 'unconfirmed reports' or information from 'sources'. It's a process that works for both bad-faith actors and social media companies themselves: they get the engagement through outrage and amplification, but if they're wrong, they can simply say they were 'just sharing' what they heard. As real events become overlaid with imaginary details, the truth has to play a constant game of catch-up. For police and state bodies, the problem is a difficult choice: leave the void that bad actors will inevitably fill, or provide information early and risk politicising every statement. That choice will continue until social media platforms are forced to reckon with the role they play — and until meaningful disincentives exist for those who weaponise misinformation. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... It is vital that we surface facts from noise. Articles like this one brings you clarity, transparency and balance so you can make well-informed decisions. We set up FactCheck in 2016 to proactively expose false or misleading information, but to continue to deliver on this mission we need your support. Over 5,000 readers like you support us. If you can, please consider setting up a monthly payment or making a once-off donation to keep news free to everyone. 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Sunday World
3 days 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.
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Gardaí set sights on cartel chief Daniel Kinahan after right-hand man is charged on extradition from Dubai
Sean McGovern (39) is the most senior member of the crime group to appear in an Irish court after he was charged with murder and directing a crime gang. The Air Corps plane arrives at Baldonnel, Dublin with Sean McGovern following his extradition from Dubai. Photo: Gerry Mooney Members of the garda armed support unit outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin yesterday, ahead of the court appearance of Sean McGovern. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Gardaí are confident of extraditing cartel leader Daniel Kinahan back to Ireland after his closest confidant was returned from Dubai to face serious charges. Sean McGovern (39) is the most senior member of the crime group to appear in an Irish court after he was charged with murder and directing a crime gang. The Crumlin man was arrested last October and finally removed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a protracted legal and diplomatic process. Daniel Kinahan His removal from the UAE, long considered a safe haven for Irish criminals, has now given renewed confidence to detectives that his boss Daniel Kinahan can be returned. The State's prosecution service and a special counsel are understood to still be reviewing a lengthy file received nearly two years ago on Daniel Kinahan and his younger brother Christy, to determine if they should face prosecution. Gardaí have recommended that they be charged with directing a criminal organisation, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on conviction. Sean McGovern Sources have described this as an 'all-encompassing' charge which reflects a wide range of offending including murder and conspiracy to murder as well as drugs and firearms offences. 'The decision lies with the DPP on whether to charge, but gardaí are confident that if this does happen, the Kinahans will be extradited back here,' a source said. The gang's leadership continues to reside in the emirate, although there are concerns that they could now move to a state more hostile to Western interests on the back of McGovern's extradition. It opens the door for future co-operation Acting Garda Commissioner Shawna Coxon last night described it as a 'precedent-setting case' and that they have signed a memorandum of understanding 'which opens the door for future co-operation'. Ms Coxon also said she 'can't speak to any specific investigation' when asked if gardaí were any further to preferring charges against the Kinahan leadership. Earlier she said that gardaí have developed 'major international partnerships' to target international crime gangs. This includes at judicial level with the UAE and a police-to-police basis which is of value, adding that it is something they will continue to develop. Ms Coxon also acknowledged the assistance of the Irish Air Corps for its 'valued co-operating in this operation'. Last night, Sean McGovern was brought before the Special Criminal Court amid a heavy armed garda presence to be formally charged. He is accused of the murder of innocent grandfather Noel Kirwan (62) in December 2016, and related offences of directing and facilitating a crime gang to carry out that murder. Noel Kirwan, who was shot dead in December 2016, and Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch McGovern is further accused of directing a crime gang to carry out surveillance on Hutch associate James 'Mago' Gately between October 2015 and April 2017, and assisting that gang conspire to murder him. Defence barrister Olan Callanan BL told the court that they were reserving their position in relation to the lawfulness of McGovern's arrest and the jurisdiction of the court. Detective Sergeant Donal Daly gave evidence of arresting the accused for the purposes of charging him and explained that the DPP certified that he should be charged before the non-jury court. The accused, dressed in a grey T-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms, socks and sandals, only addressed the court to say 'yes' when asked to confirm 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.
