Latest news with #KinahanOrganisedCrimeGroup
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- RTÉ News
McGovern charged with murder after extradition from UAE
A senior figure in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, who was extradited to Ireland from the United Arab Emirates, has been charged with murder at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court. Sean McGovern, aged 39, and originally from Drimnagh in Dublin, was arrested shortly after 6.30pm yesterday evening after an extradition flight landed at Casement Aerodrome. The Irish Air Corps Airbus C295 plane was met by detectives investigating the murder of Noel Kirwan, who was shot dead three days before Christmas in 2016 outside his home in west Dublin. Armed gardaí supported the transport of Mr McGovern and dozens of detectives and uniformed officers attended court 11 for a late sitting of the Special Criminal Court. He was then brought from the cell area into the dock. The arresting garda, Detective Sergeant Donal O'Daly, said Mr McGovern was arrested at 6.38pm at Casement Aerodrome, where the charges were explained to him. He was then charged before the three-judge court with five separate charges, including the murder of Christopher Noel Kirwan on 22 December 2016. He is also 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 17 October 2015 and 6 April 2017. He was further charged that between 20 October and 22 December 2016 he had directed activity that led to the murder of Mr Kirwan, as well as with a charge relating to the participation in a criminal organisation contrary to section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. Ciara Vibien, a solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions, applied to have Mr McGovern tried before the three-judge, non-jury court on five charges, including one charge of murder. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, sitting with Her Honour Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge Grainne Malone, agreed to the application. Before the State's application, Olan Callanan BL, for Mr McGovern, said he has spoken to his client and has seen the charges. Counsel said the defence is reserving its position on the lawfulness of the arrest and the jurisdiction of the court. Mr McGovern was remanded in custody to appear again before the Special Criminal Court next Thursday - which is anticipated to be a brief hearing via videolink.
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- RTÉ News
Senior Kinahan figure on way to Ireland after extradition
One of the most senior figures in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, who is wanted in Ireland to face charges of murder and involvement with a criminal gang, has been extradited from the United Arab Emirates. Sean McGovern, who was named in the Special Criminal Court as one of the leaders of the group, is on a Defence Forces military aircraft to Ireland. The Irish Air Corps Airbus C295 plane which is bringing him back to Ireland is due to land later today. The aircraft left Casement Aerodrome in Dublin on Monday morning en route to Dubai. It stopped in Marseille in France and Larnaca in Cyprus before arriving in Dubai on Tuesday afternoon. It flew out of Al Maktoum International Airport at around 8pm Irish time last night with Mr McGovern on board, escorted by gardaí and military personnel. The 39-year-old, who gardaí say is Daniel Kinahan's right-hand man, is wanted for the murder of Noel Kirwan, an innocent man who was shot dead as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud in December 2016. Mr McGovern is the first person to be extradited from the United Arab Emirates to Ireland. He has been in custody for over seven months and is being escorted back to Ireland by gardaí who are expected to formally arrest him when his plane lands here, and charge him before the Special Criminal Court. A European Arrest Warrant has already been issued by the High Court. Mr McGovern was arrested by police in Dubai on 10 October 2024 on foot of an Interpol red notice, a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. He has been contesting his extradition since, but the fact that he has been put on an Irish military plane and is being flown back to Ireland is evidence that he has lost that fight and that extradition proceedings in the UAE have now concluded. Interpol described Mr McGovern as "one of Ireland's most wanted fugitives" and said the red notice was published to support the ongoing collaboration between the Irish and UAE authorities. It also confirmed that Mr McGovern is wanted for charges including murder and directing an organised crime group. Mr McGovern is one of the seven senior figures in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group named and sanctioned by the US authorities. Originally from Drimnagh in Dublin, he was part of the Byrne Organised Crime Group, the Dublin faction of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Leading Kinahan gang figure Sean McGovern being extradited from UAE to Ireland
Sean McGovern, previously named in the Special Criminal Court as being one of the most senior figures in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, is being extradited from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 39-year-old, believed to be cartel leader Daniel Kinahan's right-hand man, is understood to be aboard a Defence Forces military aircraft currently making its way back to Ireland. The flight is expected to land in Dublin on Thursday. McGovern had been in custody in Dubai since last October after being arrested there on foot of an Interpol red notice - a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. The Dubliner is wanted to face charges in Ireland relating to the Kinahan-Hutch feud, including murder and involvement in a criminal gang. He is wanted in the State to face charges over the murder of Noel Kirwan, an innocent man killed as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud in December 2016. He is expected to be formally arrested by An Garda Síochána once the plane lands here. Thereafter, he is expected to appear before the Special Criminal Court on Thursday. More to follow . . .
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Irish Independent
Kinahan Cartel lieutenant Sean McGovern being extradited from UAE to Ireland
'There has been major developments in this case in the Middle East, - Mr McGovern is on his way home,' a source told the Irish Independent. The Irish Air Corps flight needs to take at least two stops on the way to Dublin. Gardaí believe that Drimnagh man McGovern is Daniel Kinahan's right-hand man, and the US Treasury Department has claimed he "sells multi-kilogramme quantities of cocaine" on behalf of the cartel. He has been held in a prison in Dubai since his arrest last October and he had previously launched a series of legal challenges to the extradition process. He is also wanted on organised crime charges in this jurisdiction. His original detention came after protracted consultation between An Garda Síochána, Interpol and police and justice authorities in Dubai and Ireland. A European Arrest Warrant (EAW) was issued in April 2022 by the High Court for McGovern to face criminal charges here. UAE authorities did not act on the warrant, but a formal request from the Department of Justice to the UAE equivalent was later issued. McGovern's original arrest was seen by gardaí as a test case for the planned arrest and eventual extradition of cartel leader Kinahan on criminal charges. Sources say McGovern's arrest has been a "major breakthrough" in garda efforts to take down the senior leadership of the cartel. Since 2022, garda efforts have been concentrated on McGovern's extradition because, unlike the Kinahan leadership, he is facing criminal charges. Gardai want to charge him with the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan (62) who was shot six times as he sat in his car on December 22, 2016 at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. He is believed to have been targeted because of perceived links to members of the Hutch family who were at war with the Kinahan cartel at the time. McGovern, a convicted drug dealer, suffered minor injuries after he was shot during the Regency Hotel bloodbath in February, 2016, when his gang was attacked by the Hutch gang. He has been named in the Special Criminal Court by Detective Superintendent David Gallagher while giving evidence in the trial of Michael Crotty, who is accused of facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan in 2016 by buying a mobile phone top-up for Sean McGovern. He has also been identified by the US sanctions against the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. In the US Treasury sanctions document, McGovern connections with the Kinahan Organised Crime Group are laid out. They claimed that he was involved with a cover company being used by the gang to launder money. McGovern 'was designated for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Daniel Kinahan'. The document alleged that 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'.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- RTÉ News
Breaking Senior Kinahan gang figure being extradited back to Ireland
One of the most senior figures in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, who is wanted here to face charges of murder and involvement with a criminal gang, is being extradited from the United Arab Emirates. Sean McGovern, who was named in the Special Criminal Court as one of the leaders of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, is currently on a Defence Forces military aircraft being flown back to Ireland. The 39-year-old who gardaí say is Daniel Kinahan's right hand man, is wanted for the murder of Noel Kirwan, an innocent man who was shot dead as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud in December 2016. Mr McGovern is the first person to be extradited from the United Arab Emirates to Ireland. He has been in custody for over seven months and is being escorted back to Ireland by gardaí who are expected to formally arrest him when his plane lands here, and charge him before the Special Criminal Court. A European arrest warrant has already been issued by the High Court. The Irish Air Corps airbus C295 plane which is bringing him back left Casement Aerodrome on Monday morning. It stopped in Marseilles in France and Larnaca in Cyprus before arriving in Dubai on Tuesday afternoon. It flew out of the Al Maktoum International Airport at around 8pm Irish time tonight with Mr McGovern on board, escorted by gardaí and military personnel. The plane is expected to land at Casement Aerodrome tomorrow evening. Mr McGovern was arrested by Dubai Police on 10 October 2024 on foot of an Interpol red notice, a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. He has been contesting his extradition since, but the fact that he has been put on an Irish military plane and is being flown back to Ireland tonight is evidence that he has lost that fight and that extradition proceedings in the UAE have now concluded. Interpol described Mr McGovern as "one of Ireland's most wanted fugitives" and said the red notice was published to support the ongoing collaboration between the Irish and UAE authorities.
