Sean McGovern changes legal team in challenge against extradition
Sean McGovern, who has challenged the legality of his extradition from the United Arab Emirates to face charges of murder and directing a criminal organisation, has made an application to change his legal team.
At the Special Criminal Court today, legal representatives for McGovern said that Michael Staines solicitors wished to withdraw from the case, with the accused to now be represented by Wayne Kenny solicitors.
Via video link from prison, McGovern confirmed that he was happy with this application, with Ms Justice Karen O'Connor putting the matter back for mention to July 28 next. The accused is to be produced in court on that date.
McGovern (39), with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on December 22, 2016 at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin in Dublin.
He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the same murder between October 20 2016 and December 22, 2016.
He is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the surveillance of James Gately in preparation for the commission of an indictable offence between October 17, 2015 and April 6, 2017.
Another charge alleges that between October 20 and December 22, 2016 he contributed to or participated in activity intending or being reckless as to whether such activity would facilitate a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
He faces a similar charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder James Gately.
He was previously extradited from the United Arab Emirates to face the charges, but in June, lawyers for McGovern raised a concern about the legality of his extradition to Ireland.
Olan Callanan BL said: "The fundamental concern is the legality, the propriety and the process which surrounded his arrival in Dublin."
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I wasn't asking for 17 minutes of her life to be played, I was asking just for a two minute video to show what kind of a person and who she was and what she would've made of herself,' Teresa said. 'Her memory wasn't recognised enough. It was a two minute video clip. That's all I was asking, for something to be played of her. I wanted him (McGinn) to see what he took from us and the pain that we're left with.'
