Daniel Kinahan is facing what a retired prison officer describes as his “toughest challenge” inside Portlaoise Prison, where he will have “absolutely no control of his life” while awaiting trial.
Kinahan, 49, is currently detained at the maximum security prison in County Laois, Ireland, after appearing at the Special Criminal Court for 14 minutes on Sunday night. He is accused of directing the activities of an organised crime gang between October 8, 2015 and April 6, 2017.
Conditions on A4 Landing
According to The Sun, Kinahan is being held on the A4 landing of the jail. Although he spent four months in the United Arab Emirates' Al-Awir Central Prison, Portlaoise is expected to present a stark contrast to his previous lifestyle.
Retired prison officer David McDonald told The Sun: “Kinahan is going from a life of luxury in Dubai to a very different life in Portlaoise Prison. He will have absolutely no control of his life when he’s in Portlaoise. If he wants a Mars bar from the tuck shop, he’ll have to put an order in.”
Daily Routine and Monitoring
McDonald added: “He will have access to a gym and education, but that’s about it. It can be very boring in jail. Each day can be the same because it doesn't change.”
“Every time he leaves his cell there will be at least three or four prison officers, so his every move is monitored. There are multiple cameras covering the prison outside his cell and I think anyone would struggle to adapt to this way of life.”
Cellmates and Remand
Kinahan is understood to be sharing the A4 landing with drug importer Nathan McDonnell and triple killer Andy Cash, who killed his younger siblings in 2022.
McDonald commented: “If he’s a model prisoner, his time on remand will be much easier. He will have absolutely no say in anything. He’s entitled to phone calls, letters and visits but everything will be monitored. He will be in there for months until his trial and it will certainly be interesting to see how he gets on.”
