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Dublin Live
20 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Garda Commissioner sends 'be afraid' warning to Kinahan trio
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has warned the surviving leaders of the Kinahan cartel : 'we are coming for you'. "They should be worried," Mr Harris said on Monday – 12 days after Daniel Kinahan's key confidant Sean McGovern was sent back from Dubai to face serious charges in his native Dublin, including murder. The three Kinahan men – Christy, 67, Daniel, 47, and Christopher 44 – are also holed up in Dubai and Mr Harris now says time is running out for them in the desert state of the United Arab Emirates. And he added: "Ourselves and other law enforcement are fixed on them, and we are fixed on bringing them all to justice." Speaking at Garda HQ in Dublin's Phoenix Park, Mr Harris warned the leaders – who like McGovern were hit with sanctions by United States authorities in April 2022 – were the subject of an unprecedented international law enforcement operation. He said: "They should have been worried now for a number of years because there's huge effort, huge investigative effort, and international effort, has gone into the investigation of the overall Kinahan organised crime gang. A lot of things which they said couldn't be done, have been done. "So following on from the sanctions, the work that we've undertaken with the UAE, and the work that specifically we've undertaken with the police in Dubai has been very fruitful. They have been very active partners with us in terms of investigation, providing us information, and obviously, UAE authorities have worked to support the extradition, and you see an individual then extradited back to Ireland to face justice here, and that's the correct thing to do." (Image: Irish Mirror) The sanctions also saw each of the Kinahan trio have a bounty of $5 million placed on their heads – and Mr Harris told other members of the gang that they should consider turning their bosses in and taking the reward money. He said: "I would also point out the other senior lieutenants within the Kinahan Organised Crime group who are now facing justice or are imprisoned, and the sanctions and the rewards still stand. "And I would point to there's $15 million there of reward money through the federal law enforcement authorities of the US, so that is still in play as well. I just want to remind others in the Kinahan Organised Grime Gang of the perilous position that they're now in. "Ourselves and other law enforcement are fixed on them, and we are fixed on bringing them all to justice. So all of them should be worried, and they should be thinking about the choices, serious life choices that are now ahead of them, in respect of what to do over the coming months. Our work with the Dubai police obviously carries on." And Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly – who oversaw much of the crackdown on the Kinahans when he was in charge of the force's serious crime operations – said that mid ranking members of the cartel had serious life decisions to take. "Some of these people need to have a really good think," he said. "They have some serious life choices they can make. They have a choice to make. The rewards are in place." He also said the May 29 extradition of Crumlin, south Dublin native McGovern, 39, showed that gardai were determined to hunt down major gangsters. Mr Kelly said: "A number of years and the commissioner were asked about this, and I think what we had said was, we would be relentless in our pursuit of some of these transnational organised crime groups. "And I think the events last week as absolute evidence of that. And I think it's really important as well that everybody knows that there's other transnational organised crime groups outside the Kinahan OCG, and exactly the same for those. "It doesn't matter where in the world they are. If there are charges here, we will seek to have them extradited back to Ireland. So extradition agreements, all the work by the Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, are really important to our organization. "I'll just repeat that again. We will be absolutely relentless in our pursuit of these criminals." And he said the international manhunt would not stop at the Kinahans – and pointed out that gardai had already dismantled two other gangs here. One is believed to be a gang from Blanchardstown in west Dublin that has been heavily targeted by gardai, while the other is thought to be the Family, a major outfit from Clondalkin. It has been targeted and degraded by gardai – as well as cops in Spain. Mr Kelly said: "There are people that are involved in organised crime, and they need to look and see what the result of that is. We have absolutely dismantled two of the organised crime groups here in Dublin. At one stage, we had 47 members of one group in jail. "So if you make those life choices and you want to become involved in this, the reality facing you is the full force of the state against you and investigations by specialist investigators, prosecutions, many of these cases end up in the Special Criminal Court. "As you're all aware, there's been numerous lengthy sentences sent out for possession of drugs, firearms. Now we have substantial legislation around organised crime, directing and facilitating organised crime. "So there's a huge range of powers we have. And even beyond that, we can see people who are convicted, their houses are now being subject to Criminal Assets Bureau orders. So before people get involved in this, this is the type of thing they need to look at." Gardai have sent investigative files on the three Kinahan men to the Director of Public Prosecutions and have asked for them to be charged with a range of gangland offences that can carry life sentences. And a separate file on the murder of Eddie Hutch, the 58-year-old brother of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch who was shot dead by the cartel in February 2016, has also asked for Daniel to be charged. The files are currently being considered by the DPP – and Commissioner Harris declined on Monday to be drawn on the status of them. He said: "I can't talk to specific files or where we are in terms of the individuals or the directions - I won't talk to that. "All I can say is that through our own National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the investigations are active and our involvement, then through Europol, with the (UK's National Crime Agency), but also US federal law enforcement that continues to be active as well." Mr Harris made his comments less than a fortnight after the extradition from Dubai of McGovern, named by US authorities as Daniel Kinahan's right hand man. He is charged with one murder and four gangland offences. (Image: Mick O'Neill) He is charged with the murder of Christoper, aka Noel, Kirwan at St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin in west Dublin on December 22, 2016. Mr Kirwan, 62, was shot dead in the driveway of his home. He was targeted by the Kinahan cartel after he was spotted with Gerry "the Monk" Hutch at the funeral of his brother Eddie. Mr McGovern is also charged with four gangland offences. It is alleged that between October 20, 2016 and December 22, 2016, he directed the activities of the criminal gang that murdered Mr Kirwan. It is also alleged that between the same dates he facilitated the crime gang's murder of Mr Kirwan. He faces a further two charges in relation to a murder attempt on James "Maggo" Gately, 36, a leading figure in the Hutch organised crime gang. It is alleged that between October 17, 2015 and April 6, 2017, he directed a criminal organisation in relation to the monitoring of activity of Mr Gately. It is further alleged that between the same dates, he facilitated a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately. McGovern is in custody in Portlaoise Prison and is due to appear at the non-jury Special Criminal Court later this month. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Be afraid, we are coming for you' - Garda chief sends warning to Kinahan trio
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has warned the surviving leaders of the Kinahan cartel: 'we are coming for you'. 'They should be worried,' Mr Harris said on Monday – 12 days after Daniel Kinahan's key confidant Sean McGovern was sent back from Dubai to face serious charges in his native Dublin, including murder. The three Kinahan men – Christy, 67, Daniel, 47 and Christopher 44 – are also holed up in Dubai and Mr Harris now says time is running out for them in the desert state of the United Arab Emirates. And he added: 'Ourselves and other law enforcement are fixed on them, and we are fixed on bringing them all to justice.' Speaking at Garda HQ in Dublin's Phoenix Park, Mr Harris warned the leaders – who like McGovern were hit with sanctions by United States authorities in April 2022 – were the subject of an unprecedented international law enforcement operation. He said: 'They should have been worried now for a number of years because there's huge effort, huge investigative effort, and international effort, has gone into the investigation of the overall Kinahan organised crime gang. 'A lot of things which they said couldn't be done, have been done. So following on from the sanctions, the work that we've undertaken with the UAE, and the work that specifically we've undertaken with the police in Dubai has been very fruitful. 'They have been very active partners with us in terms of investigation, providing us information, and obviously, UAE authorities have worked to support the extradition, and you see an individual then extradited back to Ireland to face justice here, and that's the correct thing to do.' The sanctions also saw each of the Kinahan trio have a bounty of $5 million placed on their heads – and Mr Harris told other members of the gang that they should consider turning their bosses in and taking the reward money. He said: 'I would also point out the other senior lieutenants within the Kinahan Organised Crime group who are now facing justice or are imprisoned, and the sanctions and the rewards still stand. 'And I would point to there's $15 million there of reward money through the federal law enforcement authorities of the US, so that is still in play as well. 'I just want to remind others in the Kinahan Organised Grime Gang of the perilous position that they're now in. 'So all of them should be worried, and they should be thinking about the choices, serious life choices that are now ahead of them, in respect of what to do over the coming months. Our work with the Dubai police obviously carries on.' And Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly – who oversaw much of the crackdown on the Kinahans when he was in charge of the force's serious crime operations – said that mid ranking members of the cartel had serious life decisions to take. 'Some of these people need to have a really good think,' he said. 'They have some serious life choices they can make. They have a choice to make. The rewards are in place.' He also said the May 29 extradition of Crumlin, south Dublin native McGovern, 39, showed that gardai were determined to hunt down major gangsters. Mr Kelly said: 'A number of years ago…myself and the commissioner were asked about this, and I think what we had said was, we would be relentless in our pursuit of some of these transnational organised crime groups. 'And I think the events last week as absolute evidence of that. 'And I think it's really important as well that everybody knows that there's other transnational organised crime groups outside the Kinahan OCG, and exactly the same for those. 'It doesn't matter where in the world they are. If there are charges here, we will seek to have them extradited back to Ireland. So extradition agreements, all the work by the Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, are really important to our organization. 'I'll just repeat that again. We will be absolutely relentless in our pursuit of these criminals.' And he said the international manhunt would not stop at the Kinahans – and pointed out that gardai had already dismantled two other gangs here. One is believed to be a gang from Blanchardstown in west Dublin that has been heavily targeted by gardai, while the other is thought to be the Family, a major outfit from Clondalkin. It has been targeted and degraded by gardai – as well as cops in Spain. Mr Kelly said: 'There are people that are involved in organised crime, and they need to look and see what the result of that is. 'We have absolutely dismantled two of the organised crime groups here in Dublin. 'At one stage, we had 47 members of one group in jail. 'So if you make those life choices and you want to become involved in this, the reality facing you is the full force of the state against you and investigations by specialist investigators, prosecutions, many of these cases end up in the Special Criminal Court. 'As you're all aware, there's been numerous lengthy sentences sent out for possession of drugs, firearms. Now we have substantial legislation around organised crime, directing and facilitating organised crime. 'So there's a huge range of powers we have. And even beyond that, we can see people who are convicted, their houses are now being subject to Criminal Assets Bureau orders. So before people get involved in this, this is the type of thing they need to look at.' Gardai have sent investigative files on the three Kinahan men to the Director of Public Prosecutions and have asked for them to be charged with a range of gangland offences that can carry life sentences. And a separate file on the murder of Eddie Hutch, the 58-year-old brother of Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch who was shot dead by the cartel in February 2016, has also asked for Daniel to be charged. The files are currently being considered by the DPP – and Commissioner Harris declined on Monday to be drawn on the status of them. He said: 'I can't talk to specific files or where we are in terms of the individuals or the directions - I won't talk to that. "All I can say is that through our own National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the investigations are active and our involvement, then through Europol, with the (UK's National Crime Agency), but also US federal law enforcement that continues to be active as well.' Mr Harris made his comments less than a fortnight after the extradition from Dubai of McGovern, named by US authorities as Daniel Kinahan's right hand man. He is charged with one murder and four gangland offences. He is charged with the murder of Christoper, aka Noel, Kirwan at St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin in west Dublin on December 22, 2016. Mr Kirwan, 62, was shot dead in the driveway of his home. He was targeted by the Kinahan cartel after he was spotted with Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch at the funeral of his brother Eddie. Mr McGovern is also charged with four gangland offences. It is alleged that between October 20, 2016 and December 22, 2016, he directed the activities of the criminal gang that murdered Mr Kirwan. It is also alleged that between the same dates he facilitated the crime gang's murder of Mr Kirwan. He faces a further two charges in relation to a murder attempt on James 'Maggo' Gately, 36, a leading figure in the Hutch organised crime gang. It is alleged that between October 17, 2015 and April 6, 2017, he directed a criminal organisation in relation to the monitoring of activity of Mr Gately. It is further alleged that between the same dates, he facilitated a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately. McGovern is in custody in Portlaoise Prison and is due to appear at the non-jury Special Criminal Court later this month.
Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Man arrested in Laois after making threats to 'slice babies'
A man has been arrested in relation to online videos in which explicit threats are made to Irish people that he is going to 'slice' their babies and children. The individual, who appears to be a homeless foreign national, posted a video on TikTok of himself making the threat. The post was circulated on TikTok and across other platforms, including on WhatsApp groups, resulting in, what sources described as, 'panic' in one town in Co Laois and beyond. The post uploaded by the man said: 'Irish I'm coming on top of you now. I'm going to be slicing your babies, kids before you. Get ready my friends, because you have pissed me off so much.' He also uploaded other posts, which are more rambling and incoherent. Another photo appears to show a large machete-like knife. Photos indicate he was living in a tent, along with other tents in a wooded area. A number of well-known far-right agitators reposted the video and indicated they would deal with the man if they found him. A school in Abbeyleix sent out a warning to parents at around 9.45am on Wednesday saying they were aware of rumours circulating — thought to be that the man in question had been spotted in the town. It informed parents that the school was doing everything in its power 'to keep the children and staff safe' and that everyone was going to remain indoors until the situation was resolved. There was widespread concern not just in Abbeyleix but in other areas across Co Laois, with people posting on TikTok and other platforms that there were 'rumours' the man had been seen in Mountrath, Mountmellick, and Portlaoise. Local radio stations ran reports and interviews on the matter. It is understood that gardaí had already arrested the man and detained him. Sources have said that some of the concerns and panic that resulted could have been averted if contact had first been made with gardaí. Garda HQ issued a statement at 11.45am: 'Gardaí investigating alleged threats shared online have arrested one male in Abbeyleix, Co Laois this morning, Wednesday, May 28. 'The arrested male is currently detained at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.' There can be breaks for sleep and/or medical examinations. The Garda statement added: 'There is no ongoing threat to public safety at this time.'
Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Garda suspended after allegedly trying to hire dark web hitman to murder ex-partner
A major garda investigation is underway into an alleged attempt by a garda to hire an assassin on the dark web to murder his former partner. The extraordinary case – which has shocked experienced officers in An Garda Síochána – appears to have been uncovered when foreign intelligence agencies spotted the request on the underground internet. It is understood they made contact with Garda HQ and an investigation was set up. The Garda Anti-Corruption Unit — which was set up under current commissioner Drew Harris — was assigned the investigation. The garda, based in Dublin, has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, which garda sources have described as 'extremely serious' not just for the individual but also for the organisation. A statement issued by Garda HQ confirmed the investigation was underway: 'As part of an ongoing investigation by the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit into alleged serious criminality, a garda based in Dublin is suspended.' Details of the case, first revealed in the Irish Independent, allege that the garda sought a person on the dark web, purporting to offer criminal services, to set fire to a house in which the officer's former partner lived. It is further alleged that payments, in the form of bitcoin, were made. But the alleged conspiracy unravelled after the man being hired took the money and shut down contact. Dark web It is understood that the communications were spotted by a police or intelligence agency in Europe, which in turn informed An Garda Síochána. Certain EU member states have police and intelligence agencies that have the necessary resources and technology to monitor the dark web, or particularly activities on it. Criminal services include the purchase of firearms, illegal drugs, counterfeit money, stolen data, cyber attack software, and the hiring of hitmen. Once Garda HQ assessed the information the matter was passed on to the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit for investigation. It is understood that a search was carried out in which digital devices associated with the garda in question were taken away for forensic examination. The garda was suspended from duty but is not thought to have been arrested yet. Investigators will gather and examine all the digital evidence before seeking to question the garda. "The allegations just boggle the mind," one security source said. "You think you have heard it all, then this." When Commissioner Harris set up the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit, he said there was no reason why Ireland should be any different to other European countries when it came to corrupt and criminal activities of a small number of individual police officers. He said a proactive unit was needed to tackle it.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Recovery of body parts from Michael Gaine's farm leads to arrest in murder investigation
A dramatic 24 hours in the homicide investigation into missing farmer Michael Gaine saw the arrest of a man on suspicion of murder and the recovery of human body parts at his Kerry farm. Detectives were last night questioning a man, aged in his 50s, after arresting him on suspicion of murder on Sunday afternoon. The development came after intense garda activity over the weekend at a site on Mr Gaine's 1,000-acre farm, sparked by the shock discovery of human tissue from a slurry spreader on Friday. Garda HQ announced yesterday that an arrest had been made and, shortly after, at about 5.20pm, a hearse carrying a coffin arrived at the farm, indicating that significant human body parts had been found. A curate arrived at the scene and went into the cattle barn at the centre of the examination. Men could be seen coming and going, their heads bowed and some wiping their faces. At about 5.45pm, a coffin was brought out from the barn and placed carefully into the back of the hearse. A short while later, the hearse, escorted by a garda car, pulled up the drive and headed in the direction of Moll's Gap, towards University Hospital Kerry in Tralee for an autopsy. The grim scenes followed extensive examinations on Saturday and yesterday, with the specialist Garda Water Unit yesterday joining the Garda Technical Unit in examining a slurry tank, a spreader, and a large agitator, used to mix and pump slurry. The decision to conduct the arrest so quickly came as a surprise but sources stressed this would not have been done without reasonable grounds and/or pressing operational reasons. A coffin containing remains is carried out of the cattle shed at the farm of Michael Gaine in Kerry. Picture Neil Michael The garda statement said: 'This afternoon, Sunday, May 18, a male [aged in his 50s] has been arrested on suspicion of murder. 'The male is being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in Kerry division. An Garda Síochána continues to carry out searches and technical examinations at lands at Carrig East, Kenmare, Co Kerry.' It said the family of Mr Gaine had been informed of the arrest and that the garda family liaison officer was providing support. Mr Gaine, aged 56, went missing on March 21, with the investigation upgraded to homicide on April 29. His wife Janice and his sister Noreen made an emotional plea for information the following day. Before the arrest, it was thought that gardaí had identified a shortlist of potential male suspects. The man arrested can be held for a maximum of 24 hours, excluding sleep breaks. During this period, he will be subject to a number of interviews, where evidence gathered to date will be put before him. Investigators will be in contact with the office of the DPP to determine if there is sufficient evidence to press charges or if the person should be released to allow for further investigations and the preparation of a file for submission to the office. Initial discovery Some three dozen gardaí were gathered at the scene on Sunday after the discovery of suspected human tissue on Friday. The grim find came after a worker operating a slurry spreader spotted unusual material when trying to clear a blockage in the machine. Other potential samples of tissue were subsequently identified across a number of fields where the slurry had been spread. Gardaí confirmed on Saturday evening that tests conducted by State pathologist Sally Anne Collis and forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley showed the tissue was human. DNA is being extracted from a number of tissue samples to build a DNA profile, which will be then compared to a reference sample of Mr Gaine to see if they match. Sources said that, in order to build a profile, scientists need a sufficient amount of DNA from samples and enough DNA that has not been degraded by environmental factors, such as contaminated, or even toxic, material in a slurry tank. Sources said that if the technical process of testing is expedited, it could still take a week to get preliminary results back but also stressed that it could be longer. The discovery yesterday of more significant human remains will assist and, following the autopsy, should also help in determining the cause of death. Throughout Sunday, gardaí lifted slatted slabs covering an underground slurry tank in the large slatted-unit cattle shed in the yard, and sifted through material from the tank. An excavator assisted in the procedure. The slurry tank was thought to have been emptied during an initial examination towards the end of March but may have been filled since. Sources have said that if human tissue, and the further remains discovered Sunday, come from the tank, there could be two possibilities — that the tank may not have been fully emptied and checked the first time, or that human remains were put into it after the first examination. The Garda Water Unit has the necessary expertise and equipment to search and gather material from hazardous environments, including noxious liquids and solids in slurry tanks and spreaders. Members of the unit assisted in examining the slurry spreader and a large agitator, used to mix and pump the slurry.
