A man described as a senior lieutenant in the Kinahan organised crime gang has been sentenced to 24 years in prison at a Dublin court. Sean McGovern, 40, pleaded guilty to two charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation relating to the deadly Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud in Ireland.
Background of the case
The charges against McGovern involve his role in the lead-up to the murder of Noel Kirwan, a grandfather who was shot dead in December 2016, and the targeting and monitoring of James Gately with the intent to have him killed, which ultimately did not occur. McGovern was extradited from the United Arab Emirates to face these charges.
Court proceedings
During a sentencing hearing in May, McGovern expressed a desire to apologise for the harm caused by his actions. At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Monday, the three-judge panel handed down a 24-year sentence, backdated to his arrest in Dubai in October 2024. As he was led into custody, McGovern reportedly winked at someone at the back of the court, according to the Irish Mirror.
The sentence reflects the severity of his involvement in one of Ireland's most notorious gang feuds, which has resulted in multiple deaths and significant public concern.
