Latest news with #KinahanCartel
Khaleej Times
3 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
3 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.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Sean McGovern to spend first night in Irish jail as neighbour of evil double killer
A cell was prepared for the Kinahan Cartel's number 2 in Portlaoise Prison's A5 wing in cell 8 where he will be held as he awaits trial. Extradited murder accused Sean McGovern is due to spend his first night in an Irish jail as a neighbour of double killer Yousef Palani. A cell was prepared for the Kinahan Cartel's number 2 in Portlaoise Prison's A5 wing in cell 8 where he will be held as he awaits trial. Measures were also taking place to secure his route to the exercise yard so he could not be targeted by drone equipment. Contractors were brought into the jail to make alterations to the walkway at the last minute to cover it. Yousef Palani The cell next door to Palani, who horrifically murdered two gay men in Sligo 2022, is a far cry from the plush residences he has enjoyed since fleeing to Dubai in 2016. McGovern was returned to Ireland today and brought to the Special Criminal Court where he was charged with the murder of Noel 'Duck' Egg Kirwan in December 2016 at the height of the Hutch/Kinahan feud. Plan carrying Sean McGovern lands in Dublin. Photo: Collins The 39-year-old was also charged with directing a criminal organisation involved in the conspiracy to murder Hutch associate James 'Mago' Gately. Last minute preparations for his arrival were still underway at Portlaoise Jail as he appeared in the court this evening. Palani was given two life sentences for the murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee who died within two days of one another. One victim was decapitated and both were stabbed multiple times. He pleaded guilty to the murders and to intentionally causing harm to Anthony Burke who he stabbed in the eye. He'd met his victims through a variety of social media messaging and gay dating apps. Palani told arresting officers: 'I can get angry very quick' and said that homosexuality was a 'sin.' Sean McGovern appeared in court this evening News in 90 Seconds - May 30th Dad-of-two Sean McGovern appeared at the Criminal Courts of Justice this evening amid a major security operation. McGovern was arrested this afternoon at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel after arriving on a military plan that had brought him under garda escort from the United Arab Emirates. McGovern is accused of the feud murder of Noel Kirwan (62) at St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on December 22, 2016. It's believed Mr Kirwan was targeted after attending a funeral alongside Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. McGovern is further accused of directing the activities of a criminal organisation in relation to Mr Kirwan's murder from October 20 and December 22, 2016. He is also charged with enhancing the abilities of a crime gang to carry out that murder between the same dates within the state. The court heard that McGovern also faces two additional charges relating to a plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately, more than eight years ago. He is charged with both directing a crime gang carry out surveillance of Gately, and facilitating a criminal organisation relating to the conspiracy to murder Gately between October 17 2015, and April 6, 2017. McGovern was remanded in custody to appear in court again on June 5.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Senior Kinahan gang member Sean McGovern charged with murder
An member of the Kinahan drug cartel extradited from the United Arab Emirates has been charged with murder and other charges relating to directing the activities of a criminal organisation. Sean McGovern, 39, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin amid high security. Advertisement Appearing before judges Karen O'Connor, Elma Sheahan and Grainne Malone, he was charged with five offences. He was charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan, who was shot in Dublin in December 2016 as part of the feud between the Hutch and Kinahan criminal gangs, despite having no connections to criminality. He was also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in relation to Noel Kirwan's murder, and a separate charge of facilitating the crime gang's murder of Mr Kirwin, between October 20th and December 22nd, 2016. He was also charged with two other offences, of directing the activities of a criminal organisation in relation to monitoring the activity of James Gately, and another charge of facilitating a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately. McGovern, who appeared in court in a grey T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and black sliders with white socks, confirmed his name to the court. A convoy of Gardai vehicles outside The Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, ahead of the court appearance of Sean McGovern. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire His barrister, Olan Callanan BL, told the court that they were reserving their position in relation to the lawfulness of the arrest and the jurisdiction of the court. There were more than 20 Garda members in the courtroom for the short hearing. McGovern was arrested in the UAE last October after an Interpol red notice was issued. Shortly after his arrest, Ireland finalised an agreement on an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates. McGovern was handed over to gardai in Dubai on Wednesday. He was transported back to Ireland in an Irish military plane on Thursday. He was formally arrested by police investigating the activities of the Kinahan crime gang when the aircraft landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. Detective Sergeant Donal Daly told the non-jury court he arrested McGovern at 6:38pm. He was remanded in custody and is to next appear in court on June 5th at 11am via videolink.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Kinahan cartel member Sean McGovern appears in court charged with murder following extradition from Dubai
Sean McGovern, one of the most senior figures in the Kinahan cartel, has appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged with murder and directing organised crime following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday. McGovern (39) was extradited after being in detention there since late last year. The Dubliner was on a Defence Forces flight - Air Corps Airbus C295 - on Wednesday evening. The flight left Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai at 8pm Irish time and arrived at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on Thursday evening after a number of stops to refuel. McGovern was then taken immediately under armed escort to the Special Criminal Court in Dublin where he arrived around 7.15pm. READ MORE By that stage, there was already a significant Garda presence, some of whom had their faces masked. There was dozens of Garda members sitting in the public gallery of Court 11, where the Special Criminal Court sits, from about 7pm. McGovern appeared before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge Gráinne Malone just after 7.40pm where he sat impassively, dressed in blue trousers, a light grey tshirt, and runners. He appeared relaxed, had a shaved head, stubble, and a light tan. He spoke briefly to a member of the Garda before exiting the court at the end of the hearing. Giving evidence, Detective Sergeant Donal Daly told the court he arrested McGovern at 6.38pm at Casement Aerodrome on foot of an arrest warrant. He further met McGovern at 7.27pm in a holding cell at the Criminal Courts of Justice where he said he explained the nature of the charges to him in 'ordinary language'. McGovern, who spoke only once to confirm his name, was charged with five offences. He was charged with the December 2016 murder of Noel Kirwan (62) on St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. He was also charged with directing a criminal organisation and enhancing the capacity of a criminal organisation in relation to the Kirwan murder. Separately, he was charged with directing a criminal organisation in relation to the surveillance of Dubliner James Gately in preparation for the commission of an indictable offence. He was further charged with facilitating a criminal organisation engaged in a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately between October 2015 and April 2017. McGovern was remanded in custody to appear before the same court on June 5th where he will appear by video link from Portlaoise Prison. McGovern was the highest risk extradition since John Gilligan was brought back from the UK to Ireland 25 years ago to face charges of murdering journalist Veronica Guerin and drug dealing. Arrested in the early hours of October 10th at his home in Dubai, McGovern had been living openly there for several years, apparently in the belief he would not be detained by the UAE authorities who have been slow to move against westerners. McGovern was injured in the Regency Hotel shooting in 2016. He was also one of seven leading figures in the Kinahan cartel sanctioned by the US authorities in 2022. He was described by the US Department of the Treasury as 'Daniel Kinahan's adviser and closest confidant'. It further stated that 'evidence indicates that all dealings with Daniel Kinahan go through Sean McGovern'. He had also 'managed communications on behalf of Daniel Kinahan, and he sells multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine'. He had just one known passport at the time, which was Irish, and the only one address listed in Dubai. A European arrest warrant had been issued for him and he was described by Interpol as one of Ireland's most wanted criminals.
