Latest news with #DanielKinahan
Sunday World
2 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.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
After UAE extradition, Kinahan cartel suspect Sean McGovern charged with murder in Ireland
An alleged top member of an Irish transnational gang was charged in Dublin Thursday with murder and directing organised crime after his extradition from the United Arab Emirates. Sean McGovern, 39, who was arrested at his Dubai home in October, has been described by Irish police as the right-hand man of Irish cartel boss Daniel Kinahan. "Following an extradition from the United Arab Emirates at the request of the Irish authorities, a male was arrested today," said a police statement without mentioning McGovern by name. Five charges were made against him at the Dublin Special Criminal Court, including a gangland murder in Dublin in 2016, conspiracy to murder, and directing an organised crime group. Irish police Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon told reporters the extradition was "another significant development in our continued work with international law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle transnational organised crime gangs." McGovern was flown back under Irish police escort on an Irish military aircraft which departed Dubai on Wednesday night. McGovern, who was also on a US sanctions list, was "the subject of an Interpol Red Notice," said the police statement, referring to a worldwide request to locate and provisionally arrest a suspect. Interpol described McGovern as "one of Ireland's most wanted fugitives". The Kinahan cartel has been linked by US and European authorities to a vast criminal enterprise encompassing drug smuggling and money laundering. McGovern, who had been living in Dubai for several years, is the first Kinahan cartel member to be arrested in Dubai, and is the first person ever extradited to Ireland from the United Arab Emirates. There is no extradition treaty between Ireland and the Gulf state but McGovern was extradited under a one-off arrangement.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kinahan boss' extradition shatters the illusion Irish gangsters are untouchable
Members of the Kinahan Cartel and their associates long considered Dubai to be a sun-drenched safe haven. For years, the organisation's hierarchy acted as puppet masters - pulling the strings of foot soldiers who wreaked havoc on Irish streets - directly from their plush base in the Gulf State. Senior members acted with absolute impunity and believed they would never be held accountable for their actions. Last October, two significant developments fractured that illusion. Daniel Kinahan's loyal right-hand man Sean McGovern was arrested at his home in Dubai - more than two years after a European arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice were issued. The next was when former Justice Minister Helen McEntee signed an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates which ultimately paved the way for his return. McGovern spent months fighting his extradition - his attempts, however, were futile. Years of running, ducking and evading the law were coming to an end. On Monday morning, an Irish Air Corps Airbus C295 plane left the Casement Aerodrome on the outskirts of Dublin. It made stops in Marseille in France and Larnaca in Cyprus before landing at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai on Tuesday afternoon. Around 24 hours later on Wednesday evening, the plane was back in the sky and was heading back to Ireland - the only difference was that McGovern was now on board. It took the same route back before touching down on a wet, miserable and dreary evening in Dublin - far removed from the sun-soaked scenes he became accustomed to in the UAE over the last eight years. As the wheels met the soaked tarmac of the Dublin military runaway - any belief that Irish gangsters were untouchable in Dubai were well and truly shattered. The C295 plane, which had a call sign of IRL285, officially landed at 6.28pm. Within minutes, a helicopter began circling the area. A number of marked and unmarked Garda cars were also spotted in the vicinity. Camera crews, members of the media along with a small group of public spectators gathered outside the entrance to the Casement Aerodrome. Within minutes of his feet touching Irish soil for the first time in years, McGovern was put into the back of an unmarked Garda and whisked towards the courts. At 6.51pm, the gates suddenly opened. A silver unmarked Audi led a four-vehicle convoy and turned right onto Baldonnel Road towards the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street. It was closely followed by a dark silver Skoda. The back windows of this vehicle were blacked out and it is believed to have been carrying McGovern. A black Hyundai SUV and an unmarked blue Golf R were also used. Within seconds, the convoy disappeared - whizzing through the streets of the capital as blue lights and sirens wailed. Thursday night marked the culmination of years of tireless work by the Gardaí who pursued McGovern relentlessly. He also made history yesterday by becoming the first person to be extradited from the UAE to Ireland. McGovern's arrest and extradition, which seems to have gone off without a hitch, will no doubt give the Gardaí the confidence to pursue others like the Dapper Don and his two sons Daniel and Christopher Kinahan Jnr, who remain at large.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Kinahan associate Sean McGovern arrested after landing in Ireland from Dubai and is due before Special Criminal Court
The man named in court as a key member of the Kinahan cartel based in Dubai, Sean McGovern, is due to appear before an evening sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin after his extradition flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was delayed by around two hours. Gardaí confirmed on Thursday evening that they had arrested McGovern following his extradition. The 39-year-old Dubliner is facing a charge of murder, and of directing organised crime, related to the Kinahan-Hutch feud. The murder charge relates to the shooting dead of Noel Kirwan (62) in Clondalkin, Dublin, in December 2016. Mr Kirwan was not involved in the Kinahan-Hutch feud or organised crime but was shot dead because he was a friend of the Hutch family and had been photographed at the funeral of feud victim Eddie Hutch in February, 2016. READ MORE McGovern had been living in Dubai since about 2016 and was a close associate, and key ally, of cartel leader Daniel Kinahan. McGovern was arrested at his Dubai last October on foot of an extradition request from Ireland and has been in custody in UAE since then. A convoy of Garda Cars leave through the front gates at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, after An Aer Corps Airbus C-295 landed with Sean McGovern on board. Photograph: Alan Betson McGovern's flight landed at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co Kildare, early Thursday evening. He was being flown back to Ireland, under Garda escort, on board an Air Corps aircraft, which departed Dubai on Wednesday night and refuelled several times on the journey to Ireland. [ Analysis: High-risk extradition of Sean McGovern to involve armed escort and possible helicopter when flight lands in Dublin Opens in new window ] Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has welcomed the extradition, though did not mention McGovern by name, adding it was proof of the 'excellent criminal justice co-operation' now in place between Ireland at the UAE. 'In recent years, the UAE and Ireland have worked together to advance criminal investigations into serious and organised crime,' he said. 'That strong cooperation was further strengthened by the decision to deploy a Garda liaison officer to Abu Dhabi last year and the negotiation of bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance.' Those treaties had come into force on Sunday, May 18th, after 'tireless work' by the Garda and Department of Justice and their UAE counterparts. The events now unfolding demonstrated the 'government will work through the necessary steps to pursue organised crime groups inflicting misery on our communities.' The Garda's Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon said transnational crime gangs 'cause misery to communities not only in Ireland' but globally. 'They engage in murder, human trafficking and drug dealing,' she said. 'Tackling these gangs not only makes Ireland safer, but all the other countries they operate in as well.' The extradition was 'another significant development in on our continued work with international law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle transnational organised crime gangs'. Kinahan Cartel member Sean McGovern. Photograph: An Garda Síochána Also not mentioning McGovern by name, as the extradition process was ongoing when she spoke on Thursday evening, Deputy Commissioner Coxon she said it had come about after 'intricate investigative work' by the Garda and international law enforcement partners. 'This work is not possible without the assistance of the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Director of Public Prosecutions. 'I want to particularly thank the Ministry of Justice at a judicial level in the United Arab Emirates. Our police-to-police co-operation globally is critical to the dismantling of organised crime.'
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Kinahan Cartel lieutenant Sean McGovern in garda custody after extradition from Dubai to Dublin
McGovern is in garda custody this evening in Dublin. Gardaí want to charge McGovern, who is alleged to be Daniel Kinahan's right-hand man, in connection with the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan in Clondalkin in December 2016. In a statement this evening, gardaí said: 'Following an extradition from the United Arab Emirates at the request of the Irish authorities, a male was arrested today, Thursday 29th May 2025, by Gardaí and is being brought before a sitting of the Special Criminal Court. "The male had been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. "An Garda Síochána has developed major international partnerships in our efforts to target transnational organised crime groups. "Our relationship with authorities across the world including with the Ministry of Justice at judicial level in the United Arab Emirates, and on a police-to-police basis, is valued and one which we will continue to develop. This relationship has been supported by Irish governmental and diplomatic efforts'. McGovern was also subject to sanctions from the US Treasury Department as a member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group and the US authorities issued a $5m reward for information leading to his arrest after a major press conference in Dublin in 2022. Sean McGovern was designated for sanctioning for 'materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Daniel Kinahan'. The US government 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,' their sanctioning document said. McGovern, a native of Drimnagh in Dublin, was injured in a shooting during the Regency Hotel Attack in Dublin 2016 which sparked a bloody gang war that claimed up 18 lives.
