Alleged crime boss Daniel Kinahan is being held in Ireland's highest security prison, Portlaoise Prison, where officers monitor his every move because rival gang members "want him dead." The former boxing promoter, 49, is segregated from other inmates due to the risk he poses.
Background and Criminal Allegations
Kinahan's family cartel is alleged to have made nearly £1 billion from drug trafficking and organised crime. They are also believed to have strong ties with the Glasgow-based Lyons crime family. Portlaoise Prison, built in the 19th century, has housed some of Ireland's most notorious paramilitaries and criminals convicted of rape, murder, terrorism, and drug trafficking.
Kinahan's Concerns for His Safety
Kinahan is held in Block A, reserved for inmates unable to mix with others due to risks such as gang affiliations. Sources claim the primary concern is that he may be "got at" by enemies. While in Dubai's Al Awir Central Jail before extradition, Kinahan said: "If I happen to fall and bang my head when I have handcuffs on me, I didn't fall. If I end up hanging myself, killing myself, poisoning myself, it didn't happen. I'm not suicidal."
Insider and Expert Views on Threats
A source with links to the Kinahans told the Daily Mail that the cartel controls much of the prison system in Ireland, so threats from the Hutch camp are seen as negligible. Chris Dalby, director of World of Crime, a think-tank, said Kinahan has many potential enemies, including international figures. He noted Kinahan helped create a major alliance of drug traffickers and has connections to Italian, Albanian, Dutch Moroccan, and Colombian criminal groups. Dalby added: "A lot of people might be nervous about what he could reveal" and suggested the Irish Government might assess that "a lot of people are going to benefit from this person being dead."
Prison Procedures and Security Measures
Standard procedure places Kinahan on suicide watch on arrival, with checks every 15 minutes during the first two weeks. He will spend most of his time in his cell and can wear his own clothes, which have been examined. A prison source said: "Portlaoise is about as controlled an environment as the Irish authorities can provide, and that is precisely why he is there." The source added that the prison service must be careful about who is housed near him, who he exercises with, and who he associates with, ensuring anyone he encounters is vetted from a security perspective.
