Five men, including a senior Kinahan gang member, have been arrested in Spain in connection with the disappearance of Darren Hoolahan, the brother of former Republic of Ireland footballer Wes Hoolahan. The arrests follow fears that Hoolahan was kidnapped and murdered amid an internal dispute between Kinahan cartel associates.
Darren Hoolahan, 37, from Dublin's north inner-city, has been missing from the Marbella area of Spain since early June. He is the brother of Wes Hoolahan, who played for Norwich, West Brom and Cambridge United and earned 43 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Arrests and Alleged Orchestrated Meeting
Four Irish men and one British national have been arrested in Spain, including a senior Kinahan gang member in his 50s and another in his 30s. Authorities fear the older senior gang member, who has a conviction in Ireland for a serious offence, orchestrated a meet-up with Hoolahan at a cafe in San Pedro de Alcantara. They believe Hoolahan was then transported to another location where he was held captive before being murdered.
Disturbing footage has emerged showing armed men turning up outside a property connected to Hoolahan earlier this year. In the footage, stated to be from March, the gunmen are heard claiming to be 'Policia' as they try to knock down the front door. They are first seen hopping a large gate before loud banging noises are heard. They try to kick down the door before giving up, with one man seen brandishing what appears to be a handgun.
Connection to Kinahan Cartel Dispute
The incident is being connected to the dispute in which it is feared Hoolahan was subsequently lured to a location by an associate in an apparent set-up. It is believed he knew his kidnappers and that the incident came amid an internal dispute between a number of Kinahan cartel associates. Sources say the Kinahan gangsters had effectively been running their own operation in Spain for the past number of years, ever since the cartel leadership was sanctioned in 2022.
Darren Hoolahan had previously appeared before the Irish courts for alleged burglary and driving offences. He was on the Garda radar for years after he was believed to have sided with the cartel amid the deadly Kinahan-Hutch feud.
Legal Proceedings and Family Search
Spanish news outlets have stated that the five arrested men are being held for suspected unlawful detention, possession of weapons and membership of an alleged criminal organisation. Hoolahan's family are understood to have flown to Spain earlier this year and have attempted to find him. The alarm was first raised by a woman close to Hoolahan on June 10 after she spoke to Spanish authorities about claims that he had been kidnapped and murdered.
Some details of the alleged incident spread across social media for several months before the arrests in recent days. One of the arrested men, another Kinahan cartel associate, was released from custody but was immediately re-arrested after Spanish police executed a European Arrest Warrant issued for the man's arrest in Ireland. It is understood that warrant pertains to an alleged assault back in Ireland. That man is also known to Hoolahan and is well-known to gardai, and is an associate of the slain gangster Martin 'Marlo' Hyland.
