Daniel Kinahan is on his way back to Ireland after being extradited from Dubai to face a charge of directing an organised crime group. The 49-year-old was arrested in Dubai this morning after Gardaí travelled to the United Arab Emirates on the Irish Air Corps' €53 million Dassault Falcon 6X on Saturday.
Flight Details
The government jet touched down in Dubai on Saturday night before the handover took place today. It then took off from Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport at 1.19pm local time, or 10.19am Irish time, and is expected to land at Baldonnel Airport in Dublin at around 7.20pm tonight, the Irish Mirror reports.
Kinahan is expected to appear before the Special Criminal Court following his return to Ireland, the Irish Mirror has reported. It is the first time the government jet, which was purchased last year, is understood to have been used to transport an alleged criminal back to Ireland.
Aircraft Usage
The aircraft, which has the call sign Irl290, is typically used to transport the Taoiseach and government ministers around the world. It has also been used to transport members of the Army Ranger Wing and to assist with emergency operations.
In previous operations, an Irish Air Corps Airbus C295 was used to bring Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch and Sean McGovern back to Ireland. The government jet is understood to have been chosen because it can make the journey from Dubai without requiring a stop.
A source said: "This is ultimately about getting Kinahan to Ireland as quickly and as securely as possible - both for him and the Gardaí with him."
Security and Legal Proceedings
A major security operation is expected to be in place for Kinahan's return, involving the Defence Forces, Irish Prison Service and multiple Garda units. Several road closures are also expected as Gardaí prepare to transfer him to the Special Criminal Court.
Kinahan is expected to be formally charged in connection with allegations that he directed an organised crime group. It is understood the prosecution case will relate to alleged activity during the Kinahan-Hutch feud, which began in 2015. The feud has been linked to a number of killings and attempted killings in Ireland and abroad.
Kinahan is expected to be brought before the Special Criminal Court for a brief hearing following his arrival. Three judges of the court are expected to sit for the hearing, where evidence relating to his arrest and charge will be heard. Kinahan will be entitled to legal representation and to be present during the proceedings.
Allegations and Evidence
He is then expected to be remanded in custody and transferred to the care of the Irish Prison Service. The case against Kinahan is understood to centre on allegations that he directed the Kinahan organised crime group during the period of the feud.
It is also understood to include allegations relating to an alleged attempt to target Hutch associate James 'Mago' Gately between 2015 and 2017, as well as an alleged plot targeting Gerry Hutch in Lanzarote in December 2015. The allegations have not been tested at trial and Kinahan has not been convicted of the offences.
Gardaí are understood to have gathered evidence from encrypted communications recovered during investigations into the organised crime group. Similar encrypted communications were presented during the trial of Kinahan associate Sean McGovern.
McGovern was convicted of directing an organised crime group and was jailed for 24 years over his role in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan and the targeting of Gately. During that case, the Special Criminal Court heard evidence about encrypted messages exchanged between members and associates of the organisation.
Gardaí alleged that a number of encrypted usernames, including 'Bon Neww', 'Bon4' and 'Cap', were linked to Kinahan.
The court previously heard allegations that messages sent from accounts believed by Gardaí to be linked to Kinahan contained instructions concerning Gately. In April 2017, Estonian national Imre Arakas travelled to Ireland and was later arrested by Gardaí at an address in Blakestown Cottages.
Officers seized a Blackberry device containing encrypted communications which Gardaí said related to an alleged plot against Gately. The court heard that an Emergency Response Unit officer photographed some of the messages before they were remotely wiped.
Prosecutors alleged that communications included discussions about locating Gately and carrying out an attack against him. Those allegations formed part of the evidence heard during McGovern's case and are separate from any findings that may be made in Kinahan's proceedings.
Kinahan is now expected to face the Irish courts after years of international efforts to bring him back to Ireland.
