Latest news with #SpecialCriminalCourt
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Kinahan cartel's Sean McGovern on 23-hr prison lockdown after extradition as strict ‘kept apart' jail condition in force
KINAHAN cartel member Sean McGovern is being held on 23-hour lockdown in Ireland's most secure prison. McGovern, 39, was brought to 4 Sean McGovern is being held on 23-hour lockdown in Ireland's most secure prison Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 4 McGovern is the right-hand man of cartel chief Daniel Kinahan As part of the conditions of his remand he's prevented from mixing with other prisoners, after he was charged with the Although there is an overcrowding issue at the moment in Irish The unit in which he will be held is also used for prisoners who are considered to be under threat. Read more in News He has been banned from being on the same landing as those inmates convicted of organised crime offences. One source said: 'McGovern is being kept apart from others who have connections to organised crime. 'He will stay on this landing until his trial at the Special Criminal Court starts.' The other inmates who are being held on the same landing as McGovern include Most read in The Irish Sun Another is Benjamin Morrissey, who's classed as one of Ireland's most violent prisoners. Listen to wiretap recordings of drug lord James Mulvey discussing partnering with Kinahan Cartel McGovern appeared at the Special Criminal Court after he was flown from the UAE to Ireland on an Air Corps Airbus C295 plane. The aircraft left Al Maktoum International in Dubai at 8pm Irish time on Wednesday and stopped in Larnaca in Cyprus and Marseille in France to refuel. BROUGHT BACK Once landed at the Casement Aerodrome, McGovern was brought to the Special Court to be charged with the five different offences. He was brought to the court by armed The Gardai's Armed Support Unit were also mobilised to appear at the The Crumlin man was extradited to Ireland on Wednesday after losing his appeal against the extradition in the last week. 4 McGovern was flown from the UAE to Ireland on an Air Corps Airbus C295 plane Credit: GARY ASHE commissioned by The Sun Dublin 4 McGovern is being held in Portlaoise Prison Credit: PA:Press Association
Dublin Live
2 days ago
- Dublin Live
'Textbook' decoy convoy brought Kinahan boss to court after extradition
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 The Defence Forces and Gardaí concocted a decoy plan to get Kinahan mobster Sean McGovern safely to court, it has emerged. The Irish Mirror reports that military officers at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, south County Dublin worked with senior Gardaí to send two convoys out at the same time – but the cavalcade the media filmed was a dummy one. Sources say the real convoy carrying McGovern, 39, to the Special Criminal Court left at the same time as the dummy one – but from another gate. "It was a textbook military tactic," a source said. More than a dozen media and members of the public were camped outside the main gate of the Air Corps HQ when the fake convoy – consisting of an Audi saloon, a Skoda SUV, a Hyundai SUV, a Volkswagen Golf and a Volkswagen Tiguan – left at approximately 6:51pm to make the 21kms journey to the CCJ in central Dublin, where the Special Criminal Court is located. But, unbeknownst to the observers, McGovern was not in any of the cars. Instead, he was being driven out of one of the other five gates in the sprawling airbase – in a convoy made up of a black Audi Saloon, a black BMW SUV and a black Audi estate. No civilians witnessed the convoy that was actually carrying McGovern leaving the base. The convoy – including members of the heavily-armed Emergency Response Unit – arrived at the CCJ at 7.11pm. Sources have confirmed the Defence Forces and Gardaí worked together to launch the diversion operation. Sources said it was aimed at minimising the security risk to Gardaí involved in the convoy. It's also understand that the gate through which the real convoy left Baldonnel was only opened for 30 seconds – just enough for the cars to leave. A Defence Forces spokesman and a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána declined to comment. McGovern later appeared in court on five charges. 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 Hutch in Dublin in February 2016. 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. He was remanded in custody to Portlaoise Prison. His next court appearance is June 5 via video link from the prison. 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 Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Alleged cartel gangster Sean McGovern being held in ‘complete isolation' in Portlaoise Prison
Alleged Kinahan gangster Sean McGovern is on a 'complete isolation' regime in Portlaoise Prison where he was remanded to last night by the Special Criminal Court.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Sean McGovern is in ‘complete isolation' in Irish jail after feud murder charge
'For now he is not allowed to interact with any other prisoners – he is in a single cell in a contained area where he will stay for 23 hours a day.' Kinahan chief Sean McGovern is on a 'complete isolation' regime in Portlaoise Prison where he was remanded to last night by the Special Criminal Court. The Sunday World has learnt that he is at the 'number one level of threat' within the entire Irish prison system and everything he does is being constantly monitored by prison officers. 'He is in a special area of Ireland's highest security prison –in time he will be moved to a different area within the jail but not out of Portlaoise,' a source explained. News in 90 Seconds - May 30th 'For now he is not allowed to interact with any other prisoners – he is in a single cell in a contained area where he will stay for 23 hours a day. 'He will be allowed one hour of exercise on his own if he wishes to take that up – this will be highly supervised and again he will not be given the opportunity to interact with other prisoners when this happens. 'What jail authorities are dealing with here are two very serious issues – one is the perceived threat against the individual from his enemies – namely the Hutch organised crime gang. 'His personal safety within the jail system is of profound importance to the State when you consider the magnitude and significance of the criminal charges he is facing. 'The other big issue here is that it has to be ensured that the individual is given absolutely no chance to embark on any criminal activity while in custody. 'In simple language he is in the most secure place within Ireland's most secure prison,' the source said. When contacted by the Sunday World a spokesman for the Irish Prison Service said: 'We cannot comment on individual prisoners cases.' Crumlin man McGovern (39) was extradited from Dubai and landed in Dublin on a military plane last night before being brought to the Special Criminal Court last night. He is the alleged highest ranking member of the Kinahan cartel to face charges here. He is charged with the murder of Christopher - aka Noel - Kirwan on St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin, Dublin on 22 December 2016. He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with Kirwan's murder between 20 October and 22 December 2016, and facilitating Kirwan's murder. Separately, McGovern is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in relation to the monitoring of the activity of James Gately between 17 October 2015 and 6 April 2017, both dates inclusive. He is also charged with participating in activity with conspiracy to murder senior Hutch gangster James Gately between those dates. McGovern was extradited from the United Arab Emirates via an Irish Air Corps CASA aircraft last night. He was detained in Dubai in October last year. It followed the issuing of an Interpol Red Notice. A warrant had been issued for McGovern's arrest in connection with the murder of Noel Kirwan in December 2016. 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. The Irish Independent previously highlighted the cartel's close links to Iran.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sunday World
UAE chiefs extradited Sean McGovern to ‘polish' crime haven reputation, expert claims
Human rights lawyer Radha Stirling has warned that McGovern's extradition does not mean the UAE have had a change of heart when it comes to the rule of law. Cartel chief Sean McGovern was extradited by the UAE in a bid to clean up their image as a haven for international crime bosses, a human rights expert has claimed. McGovern spent his first night in a cell in Portlaoise Prison last night after appearing before a sitting of the Special Criminal Court. The Drimnagh native did not speak as he was charged with five offences – including the murder of grandfather Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. McGovern was placed on an Irish military jet in Dubai on Monday evening after months of legal and diplomatic efforts to have him returned to face trial in Ireland. Sean McGovern News in 90 Seconds - May 30th However, human rights lawyer Radha Stirling – who runs the Detained in Dubai group – has warned that McGovern's extradition does not mean the UAE have had a change of heart when it comes to the rule of law. She said: 'This extradition is being used as a public relations exercise. 'The UAE wants to shed its reputation as a criminal safe haven, especially under pressure from Interpol, the FATF, and Western allies. But one extradition doesn't reflect meaningful change in a legal system that remains opaque, politicised, and lacking in basic due process.' Ms Sterling founded the London-based Detained in Dubai group after she launched a campaign to help her friend who was jailed Dubai in 2008. She continues to advocate for people jailed in the UAE and has campaigned to make the legal process in the UAE more transparent. Ms Sterling claims the decision to extradite McGovern does not vindicate the UAE's legal system. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai 'Extraditions from the UAE are rarely the result of impartial legal proceedings. "More often, they are part of political or diplomatic bargaining. Quid pro quo arrangements that have little to do with justice. This makes it incredibly dangerous for anyone with business disputes, political enemies, or public profiles that might make them a target.' She said she believes the decision to hand over McGovern was a bid to improve the Gulf State's image. 'The UAE continues to host high-profile individuals facing serious international scrutiny. "Yet enforcement appears to depend not on the strength of evidence, but on whether the person in question is politically and economically expendable. There is no consistency or transparency and that should deeply concern Ireland and all countries engaging in extradition treaties with the UAE,' she said. She added: 'McGovern's extradition will be used to polish the UAE's image. But the same risks remain, including arbitrary arrests, lack of fair trials, and politically motivated prosecutions. It is vital that Western governments approach such cooperation with caution and scrutiny.' During a brief hearing in the Special Criminal Court, McGovern was charged with five offences following directions by the DPP. Sean McGovern was shot at the Regency McGovern was 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 Air Corps plane arrives at Baldonnell with Sean McGovern following his extradition from Dubai. Picture; Gerry Mooney 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.
