Latest news with #DanielKinahan
Sunday World
02-06-2025
- Sunday World
Sean McGovern ‘relieved' to be back in Ireland after eight months in Dubai jail
The Kinahans are 'not panicking' over McGovern's extradition Senior Kinahan gang member Sean McGovern was 'relieved' to be extradited back to Ireland after spending eight months in prison in Dubai. A source involved in his 'complicated and secretive' extradition said gardaí believed he was being returned home on a couple of other occasions in recent months, only for legal issues to arise at the last minute. The 39-year-old Dubliner is one of cartel leader Daniel Kinahan's closest confidants. The leadership of the Kinahan cartel, including Daniel, his father Christy Sr and brother Christopher Jr, remain in Dubai. The Kinahans are 'not panicking' over McGovern's extradition and 'have no plans to flee Dubai', according to garda intelligence. 'They've no plans to flee, and if they did, we would be able to find them because of international co-operation,' a source said. Gardaí are awaiting a direction from the DPP on whether Daniel Kinahan and other members of his family should face a range of criminal charges, including leadership of an organised crime gang. Sean McGovern News in 90 seconds - June 2nd The state prosecutor has been considering an extensive garda file on Daniel Kinahan and other senior cartel members for two years. 'It could be a good sign there is no direction yet. It means the DPP is very thoroughly looking at it,' the source said. As first reported in the Sunday World last year, the proposed extradition of McGovern was seen as a 'test case' for plans to eventually attempt to return Daniel Kinahan to Ireland to face charges. The source pointed out that navigating the extradition process for McGovern would prove 'very helpful' if gardaí make attempts to extradite Daniel Kinahan. 'The extradition process for Sean McGovern was challenging. Due process had to take place, which meant a lot of legal issues had to be overcome,' the source said. A good relationship was developed with authorities in the United Arab Emirates and there was a significant amount of help from Interpol on this case too, but it was a secretive process and very different to our own.' Armed gardaí outside courts ahead of the appearance of Sean McGovern last Thursday. Photo: PA It is understood gardaí did not receive regular updates on developments in Dubai in relation to McGovern's planned extradition and instead 'had to trust the process'. Meanwhile, the father-of-two's journey home on a military aircraft that made a number of stops en route passed off without incident. McGovern's partner and the mother of his two children is expected to return to Ireland from Dubai. McGovern, formerly of Kildare Road, Crumlin, is the most senior member of the Kinahan crime group to be charged before the Irish courts. Sean MCGovern and Anita Freeman He appeared in the Special Criminal Court last Thursday evening, shortly after arriving in Ireland. He is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan (62) at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin, on December 22, 2016. Kirwan was shot dead as he sat in his car with his partner in the driveway of her home. He was not involved in the feud, but was targeted after being spotted beside Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch at a funeral. McGovern is also charged with directing a criminal organisation involved in the conspiracy to murder a rival gangster. The alleged offences were carried out as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud, which claimed up to 18 lives in Ireland and abroad.
Sunday World
30-05-2025
- Sunday World
Gardaí set sights on cartel chief Daniel Kinahan after right-hand man is charged on extradition from Dubai
Sean McGovern (39) is the most senior member of the crime group to appear in an Irish court after he was charged with murder and directing a crime gang. The Air Corps plane arrives at Baldonnel, Dublin with Sean McGovern following his extradition from Dubai. Photo: Gerry Mooney Members of the garda armed support unit outside the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin yesterday, ahead of the court appearance of Sean McGovern. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Gardaí are confident of extraditing cartel leader Daniel Kinahan back to Ireland after his closest confidant was returned from Dubai to face serious charges. Sean McGovern (39) is the most senior member of the crime group to appear in an Irish court after he was charged with murder and directing a crime gang. The Crumlin man was arrested last October and finally removed from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a protracted legal and diplomatic process. Daniel Kinahan His removal from the UAE, long considered a safe haven for Irish criminals, has now given renewed confidence to detectives that his boss Daniel Kinahan can be returned. The State's prosecution service and a special counsel are understood to still be reviewing a lengthy file received nearly two years ago on Daniel Kinahan and his younger brother Christy, to determine if they should face prosecution. Gardaí have recommended that they be charged with directing a criminal organisation, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on conviction. Sean McGovern Sources have described this as an 'all-encompassing' charge which reflects a wide range of offending including murder and conspiracy to murder as well as drugs and firearms offences. 'The decision lies with the DPP on whether to charge, but gardaí are confident that if this does happen, the Kinahans will be extradited back here,' a source said. 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. It opens the door for future co-operation Acting Garda Commissioner Shawna Coxon last night described it as a 'precedent-setting case' and that they have signed a memorandum of understanding 'which opens the door for future co-operation'. Ms Coxon also said she 'can't speak to any specific investigation' when asked if gardaí were any further to preferring charges against the Kinahan leadership. Earlier she said that gardaí have developed 'major international partnerships' to target international crime gangs. This includes at judicial level with the UAE and a police-to-police basis which is of value, adding that it is something they will continue to develop. Ms Coxon also acknowledged the assistance of the Irish Air Corps for its 'valued co-operating in this operation'. Last night, Sean McGovern was brought before the Special Criminal Court amid a heavy armed garda presence to be formally charged. He is accused of the murder of innocent grandfather Noel Kirwan (62) in December 2016, and related offences of directing and facilitating a crime gang to carry out that murder. Noel Kirwan, who was shot dead in December 2016, and Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch McGovern is further accused of directing a crime gang to carry out surveillance on Hutch associate James 'Mago' Gately between October 2015 and April 2017, and assisting that gang conspire to murder him. Defence barrister Olan Callanan BL told the court that they were reserving their position in relation to the lawfulness of McGovern's arrest and the jurisdiction of the court. Detective Sergeant Donal Daly gave evidence of arresting the accused for the purposes of charging him and explained that the DPP certified that he should be charged before the non-jury court. The accused, dressed in a grey T-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms, socks and sandals, only addressed the court to say 'yes' when asked to confirm he was Sean McGovern. No application for bail was made as this can only be sought before the High Court on charges of murder or organised crime offences. Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, presiding, remanded McGovern in custody and he is due to appear before the court again on June 5.
Khaleej Times
30-05-2025
- 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
30-05-2025
- 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.
Irish Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Kinahan associate Sean McGovern arrested after landing in Ireland from Dubai and is due before Special Criminal Court
The man named in court as a key member of the Kinahan cartel based in Dubai, Sean McGovern, is due to appear before an evening sitting of the Special Criminal Court in Dublin after his extradition flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was delayed by around two hours. Gardaí confirmed on Thursday evening that they had arrested McGovern following his extradition. The 39-year-old Dubliner is facing a charge of murder, and of directing organised crime, related to the Kinahan-Hutch feud. The murder charge relates to the shooting dead of Noel Kirwan (62) in Clondalkin, Dublin, in December 2016. Mr Kirwan was not involved in the Kinahan-Hutch feud or organised crime but was shot dead because he was a friend of the Hutch family and had been photographed at the funeral of feud victim Eddie Hutch in February, 2016. READ MORE McGovern had been living in Dubai since about 2016 and was a close associate, and key ally, of cartel leader Daniel Kinahan. McGovern was arrested at his Dubai last October on foot of an extradition request from Ireland and has been in custody in UAE since then. A convoy of Garda Cars leave through the front gates at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, after An Aer Corps Airbus C-295 landed with Sean McGovern on board. Photograph: Alan Betson McGovern's flight landed at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Co Kildare, early Thursday evening. He was being flown back to Ireland, under Garda escort, on board an Air Corps aircraft, which departed Dubai on Wednesday night and refuelled several times on the journey to Ireland. [ Analysis: High-risk extradition of Sean McGovern to involve armed escort and possible helicopter when flight lands in Dublin Opens in new window ] Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has welcomed the extradition, though did not mention McGovern by name, adding it was proof of the 'excellent criminal justice co-operation' now in place between Ireland at the UAE. 'In recent years, the UAE and Ireland have worked together to advance criminal investigations into serious and organised crime,' he said. 'That strong cooperation was further strengthened by the decision to deploy a Garda liaison officer to Abu Dhabi last year and the negotiation of bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance.' Those treaties had come into force on Sunday, May 18th, after 'tireless work' by the Garda and Department of Justice and their UAE counterparts. The events now unfolding demonstrated the 'government will work through the necessary steps to pursue organised crime groups inflicting misery on our communities.' The Garda's Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon said transnational crime gangs 'cause misery to communities not only in Ireland' but globally. 'They engage in murder, human trafficking and drug dealing,' she said. 'Tackling these gangs not only makes Ireland safer, but all the other countries they operate in as well.' The extradition was 'another significant development in on our continued work with international law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle transnational organised crime gangs'. Kinahan Cartel member Sean McGovern. Photograph: An Garda Síochána Also not mentioning McGovern by name, as the extradition process was ongoing when she spoke on Thursday evening, Deputy Commissioner Coxon she said it had come about after 'intricate investigative work' by the Garda and international law enforcement partners. 'This work is not possible without the assistance of the Department of Justice, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Director of Public Prosecutions. 'I want to particularly thank the Ministry of Justice at a judicial level in the United Arab Emirates. Our police-to-police co-operation globally is critical to the dismantling of organised crime.'
