Daniel Kinahan extradited from Dubai to face trial in Ireland

Suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan is returning to Ireland aboard the government jet following an arrest in the United Arab Emirates. The flight departed from Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport on Sunday, according to coverage by Corkbeo. Flight tracking data indicates the plane left Dubai at 13:19 local time and was expected to land in Dublin before 19:00 local time on Sunday.

The forty-nine-year-old was arrested in April in the United Arab Emirates. He is being extradited to the Republic of Ireland to face a charge of directing a criminal organisation. According to reporting by the BBC, Kinahan fought attempts to extradite him back to his native country, where the Kinahan cartel was involved in a long-running gangland feud that claimed lives. A warrant for his arrest was issued by Irish courts in April, and his attempts to appeal the extradition order over the past few months were unsuccessful.

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Legal proceedings are set to move swiftly. Both the BBC and Corkbeo state that Kinahan will be brought directly to appear before the non-jury, three-judge Special Criminal Court for a Sunday night hearing. Special arrangements were made to open the courts' doors on Parkgate Street for the evening remand hearing, where three judges will be in place to hear evidence of the arrest, charge, and caution from a senior garda.

The case against Kinahan relies in part on encrypted Pretty Good Privacy messages recovered from seized devices. According to Corkbeo, gardaí allege that encrypted handles such as 'Bon Neww,' 'Bon4,' and 'Cap' belonged to Kinahan and were used to direct associates including Sean McGovern regarding targets and plots during the feud. The charge is understood to encompass a number of murder plots, including directing the criminal gang in an attempt to murder James 'Mago' Gately from October 2015 into mid-2017, and a plot to murder Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch in Lanzarote in December 2015. Court evidence previously detailed encrypted instructions sent via handles suspected to be Kinahan to Estonian hitman Imre Arakas regarding targeting Gately.

Security and Extradition Background

A large-scale security operation involves armed gardaí, the Irish Defence Forces, and the Irish Prison Service. The weekend operation includes multiple Garda units, such as the Armed Support Unit, Emergency Response Unit, National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, and Garda Air Support, alongside road closures designed to move Kinahan straight to the Special Criminal Court without delay.

Justice ministers from both jurisdictions issued a joint statement welcoming the handover. Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan described the event as a landmark of judicial cooperation and commended the professionalism, efficiency, and diligence demonstrated by UAE authorities. UAE counterpart Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi emphasised a steadfast commitment to supporting global efforts to combat transnational organised crime, as reported by the BBC.

The BBC notes that the US Treasury Department previously designated the Kinahan cartel as one of the most dangerous in the world and imposed sanctions in April 2022 after identifying family members as leaders of the cartel. The National Crime Agency has stated that the cartel imported tonnes of drugs and firearms globally and linked the group to more than a dozen gangland murders. A reward of up to $5m has also been offered by the US for information on the three most senior Kinahan gang members.

Conversely, Daniel Kinahan's lawyer previously told BBC Panorama that he has no criminal record or convictions and that allegations branding him a crime boss are false and lack an evidential basis, according to the BBC.

Post-Arrest Transport and Detention

• Arrival: The government jet touches down at Baldonnel Airport, where Kinahan is arrested on the tarmac in relation to directing a criminal organisation.
• Court Appearance: An armed escort transports him to the Special Criminal Court on Parkgate Street for a Sunday evening remand hearing.
• Transfer: He is moved into a newly purchased bulletproof and bombproof prison van acquired by the Irish Prison Service from the UK.
• Imprisonment: Kinahan is taken to Portlaoise Prison in County Laois to be housed in the secure 'A' Block, where he is expected to be held in isolation and placed on suicide watch.

What Happens Next

Following Sunday night's court appearance and remand, Kinahan is expected to be transferred to Portlaoise Prison. Legal sources cited by Corkbeo indicate that future pre-trial court hearings will likely take place via video link, and a full trial is not anticipated for at least a year due to the extensive volume of the case file.