The Justice Minister is warning Ireland’s crime gangs they have “no hiding place anywhere in the world” after a senior member of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group was arrested in Dubai.
Sean McGovern was arrested in the early hours of this morning and is currently in custody in the United Arab Emirates.
Mr McGovern is wanted in Ireland on murder and organised crime-related charges and a European Arrest Warrant was issued for him in 2022.
Gardaí believe he has held a senior role in the Kinahan gang and wish to question him as part of their investigations into the murder of Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan who was shot dead outside his Clondalkin home days before Christmas in 2016.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee at Government Buildings, 7-8-24. Image: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ieIn a statement, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said there is no place to hide for members of organised crime groups.
“While I cannot comment on an individual case, any person involved in organised crime should know there is no hiding place,” she said. “You will face justice.”
“The Government is taking all necessary steps to dismantle organised crime.
“Many organised crime gangs think they can evade justice by crossing borders – they cannot.
“There can be no hiding place anywhere in the world for criminals.”
Reward of up to $5,000,000.00 USD for information leading to the Financial Disruption of the Kinahan Criminal Organisation or the arrest and/or conviction of:
Daniel Kinahan
Christy Kinahan Sr
Christy Kinahan JrSubmit Tips via email to KinahanTCOTips@dea.gov pic.twitter.com/PEafbJkJ8a
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022
Minister McEntee said there is now “excellent cooperation” between Gardaí and their counterparts in Dubai, adding that the posting of a Garda Liaison Officer to Abu Dhabi last year “has been key to this”.
The United Arab Emirates currently does not have an extradition treaty with Ireland; however, Minister McEntee said “good progress” is now being made on “bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance”.
Mr McGovern is one of seven senior figures in the Kinahan group to have been named and sanctioned by US authorities.
Daniel Kinahan, his father Christopher Senior and brother Christopher Junior were also named in the sanctions announced by the US Treasury Department in Dublin in April 2022.
The US has also announced a $5m (€4.59m) reward for any information leading to the arrest of the three Kinahan family members.
