Live updates as Kinahan cartel boss Sean McGovern being extradited to Ireland to face justice
Kinahan cartel boss Sean McGovern is on his way back to Ireland - to face murder and gangland charges, it has emerged.
The Irish Mirror has learned that McGovern - described by United States authorities as Daniel Kinahan's closest confidant - is being flown back to Ireland from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates by the Air Corps and accompanied by Gardaí. It has taken off from Dubai International Airport in the last 15 minutes.
Sources tell us he is now on board an Air Corps' €120 million Casa C295 maritime surveillance plane. The crew, accompanied by Gardai, are understood to have left Ireland in recent days on the aircraft, before reaching Dubai on Tuesday evening after a 6,000km flight.
Dubai cops handed McGovern over to Gardaí this afternoon. The plane has begun the long flight home and is expected in Dublin late tomorrow afternoon.
McGovern, from Crumlin, is now expected to appear at the non-jury Special Criminal Court shortly after the C295 lands in Dublin. Gardaí will arrest him as soon as he lands and he will then be charged and brought to court.
The dramatic move follows Dubai's arrest of McGovern, 38, in the desert oil state last October. That was on foot of an extradition request from Irish authorities.
The request was made after the Director of Public Prosecutions ordered that McGovern be charged with two offences linked to the Kinahan Hutch feud, a war that left up to 18 men dead. McGovern is to be charged with the December 2016 murder in Clondalkin in the west of the capital of Noel Kirwan.
(Image: An Garda Siochana)
Mr Kirwan, 62, was shot dead in the driveway of his home. Gardaí believe the Kinahan cartel murdered the innocent Mr Kirwan simply because he had been seen in the company of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, 62, at the funeral of his brother Eddie. Eddie, 58, was shot dead by the cartel in February 2016 - three days after the Hutch gang's murderous attack on the Regency Airport Hotel that killed Kinahan ally David Byrne, 34.
McGovern was also injured in that attack, which was an attempt to murder Daniel Kinahan. McGovern refused to cooperate with Gardaí after the shooting.
Gardai have also been authorised to charge McGovern - who was one of seven people including Daniel, Christopher and Christy Kinahan - to be formally sanctioned by America in April 2022, for directing a crime gang. That is a rarely-used law that can see anyone convicted for life - which is also the penalty for someone found guilty of murder.
McGovern has been in custody in Dubai since October, but he was fighting the extradition request. But he lost that fight and is now back in Ireland - where he will now face justice.
Ireland had no extradition treaty with Dubai at the time, but former Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris both lobbied UAE authorities to get McGovern arrested. Ireland and the UAE have now agreed a deal and that is sure to be bad news for the three Kinahan men - who are also holed up in the UAE.
Gardaí want them hit with serious charges, but the Director of Public Prosecutions has made no decision on those three men yet. Gardaí declined to comment when contacted this evening by Dublin Live.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
21 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Man who stabbed father and son at his next door neighbours' party is spared jail
The defendant, aged 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm stemming from the incident on May 19, 2020 at a Dundalk housing estate. A man who stabbed a father and son after being asked to leave a party taking place next door to his home has avoided imprisonment. The defendant, aged 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm stemming from the incident on May 19, 2020 at a Dundalk housing estate. A sentence hearing at the circuit court heard that while the accused's initial engagement with the Probation Service had been poor and he had been assessed at high risk of reoffending, he had made progress subsequently during two-and-a-half years' probation supervision. Dundalk Courthouse News in 90 Seconds - June 21st Judge Dara Hayes imposed consecutive one year, nine-month sentences on each charge, conditionally suspended for three-and-a-half years. The defendant had been asked to leave a party next door to his family home. He did so before returning to get cigarette filters. He stabbed the young man hosting the party and during a scuffle when the victim's father attempted to detain him until Gardaí arrived, he stabbed this man too. The younger man required stitches. His father didn't need hospital treatment. Both recovered and neither wanted to make a Victim Impact Statement. Judge Hayes said they were unprovoked attacks. It was a serious matter to go with a knife and then use it. Fortunately, the injuries were not more serious. The accused made some admissions at the time. He had one previous conviction for Section 3 possession of drugs and one for Section 6 public order. His mother died this year and his father in tragic circumstances when he was aged 9. The judge continued that aggravating factors were the use of a knife. The defendant was a child in law at the time. There were two different victims so the sentences should be consecutive. The court noted 'substantial progress towards rehabilitation'. As order was made as outlined.
Sunday World
21 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Teen (13) speeding on e-scooter ‘drove recklessly' to avoid capture by Gardaí
The teenager was eventually caught and is now being dealt with through the Juvenile Diversion Programme The teenager was apprehended by Gardaí and the e-scooter was seized. Photo: An Garda Síochána Kildare A teenage boy who was caught speeding on an e-scooter in Co Kildare refused to stop for Gardaí and "drove recklessly' in order to avoid capture. While on patrol in Newbridge in Co Kildare, the Naas Roads Policing Unit spotted a young teenager driving an e-scooter travelling at speeds of up to 50kmh on the R445, despite the law stating that e-scooters must not exceed 20kmh. The teenager was apprehended by Gardaí and the e-scooter was seized. Photo: An Garda Síochána Kildare News in 90 Seconds - June 21st Additionally, e-scooters can only be driven by those aged 16 years and over and must not be fitted with a saddle. The 13-year-old driver of the e-scooter refused to stop for Gardaí and 'drove recklessly' in an attempt to avoid capture by Gardaí. The young teenager was finally apprehended by Gardaí and will now be dealt with under the Juvenile Diversion Programme, while the e-scooter was seized. "E-scooters are not toys, they are motorised vehicles and must be used responsibly,' said a Garda spokesperson. 'Misuse can lead to serious injury and legal consequences. "Let's work together to keep our roads safe.'
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
‘Putin has blood on his hands' blasts MEP as Irish mother seeks answers about son's death in Russian air strike
Liam Cosgrove Today at 06:00 Russian president Vladimir Putin has been accused of having the blood of a Reuters news employee with strong links to the midlands 'on his hands' as his Irish born mother desperately seeks answers over the circumstances which led up to his death. Thirty-eight-year-old Ryan Evans was working as a safety adviser with news agency Reuters when a missile struck the hotel he had been staying in with colleagues in the city of Kramatorsk on August 24 last year.
