Daniel Kinahan, alleged to be a leader of the Kinahan organised crime group, has been seen for the first time in months as he appeared in court in Dublin on Sunday, after being extradited from the UAE. He has been remanded into custody, charged with directing an organised crime group.
The 49-year-old, who had lived in Dubai for years, was flown to Ireland on an Irish Government jet over the weekend. He was immediately taken by high-speed Garda escort to court, and has now been transferred to the maximum-security Portlaoise Prison in the Irish midlands.
Arrest and Extradition
Mr Kinahan was arrested in the UAE on April 15 following an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts. This was carried out in accordance with a bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the UAE.
After the plane left Dubai on Sunday, the justice ministers for Ireland and the UAE welcomed Mr Kinahan's extradition in a joint statement. Jim O’Callaghan and Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi said the Irish national being extradited was "regarded as one of the most high-profile individuals sought for prosecution in connection with transnational organised crime".
They confirmed the extradition after a formal request submitted by Irish authorities, and the final decision was issued after a judgment by the Dubai Court of Cassation, in accordance with the extradition treaty between the two countries. The two ministers added that the final extradition decision "reflects the steadfast commitment of both countries to the rule of law and reinforces international judicial co-operation".
Court Appearance
New images show Mr Kinahan crouched in the back of a car with a hood over his head, leaving court in Dublin on Sunday. He was likely to have been placed on A wing, with some of the most high-profile residents and others facing trial at the Special Criminal Court.
Inside the court room, the dock was checked by gardaí before Mr Kinahan appeared, alongside several other gardaí, for a hearing which lasted about 14 minutes. At the judge-led hearing, Judge Fiona Lydon, Judge Patrick McGrath and Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley sat in the court which tries terrorism and organised crime cases.
Mr Kinahan told the court he had been isolated from Friday afternoon, adding that he believed a family member would have contacted a legal representative on his behalf, and he was happy to proceed. He did not react after being charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 18 2015 and April 6 2017.
Background
The National Crime Agency (NCA) previously alleged the so-called 'Kinahan cartel' has been responsible for importing tonnes of drugs and firearms around the world. The US Treasury Department has described it as one of the most dangerous organised crime groups in the world, comparable to Italy's Camorra, Mexico's Los Zetas and Japan's Yakuza.
Crowds gathered outside both the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on the outskirts of Dublin on Sunday for the landing of the plane, and the Special Criminal Court, to try to get a glimpse of Mr Kinahan. They watched two separate high speed convoys pass by, in an additional precaution, to transport the man believed to have been the target of a gun attack at a boxing weigh-in in Dublin in 2016.
Detective Sergeant Colin Davidson told the court that he had arrested Mr Kinahan on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel at 6.49pm that day. He said he ensured that the accused understood the charge.
Judge McGrath told Mr Kinahan when the case would next be heard, and explained to him that because of the charge an application for bail would have to be made to the High Court. Mr Kinahan said: “I understand. I think we know I won’t be getting bail, but thank you.”
He will next appear in court on October 5, and was told that he has the option of either attending in person or appearing via video link. He said he would decide later.
