A SENIOR ASSOCIATE of the Kinahan crime gang is due in court this morning in the UK charged over firearms offences. 

Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh (51), of Tamworth, was detained at Birmingham Airport on Saturday on suspicion of conspiring to import and supply drugs, firearms and ammunition, as well as money laundering.

He was charged with possession of a Section 5 firearm following his arrest, which was carried out as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the supply of drugs and firearms in Ireland and the UK.

The operation was supported by gardaí and Staffordshire Police, and follow-up searches were carried out yesterday, when a combination torch and stun gun, which is illegal to own and possess in the UK, was recovered.

Kavanagh was remanded in custody and is due at North Staffordshire Magistrates court today.

A 20-year old man, who was arrested alongside Kavanagh at Birmingham Airport, has been released under investigation.

A third man, aged 19, was also arrested but has been released under investigation.

Comments are closed as the matter is before the courts. 

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald