LAST UPDATE | 10 Oct

THERE HAS BEEN a major development in the garda investigation into the Kinahan Organised Crime Group as alleged key gang leader Sean McGovern has been arrested in Dubai.

McGovern was shot in the botched Hutch gang hit to kill Daniel Kinahan at the Regency Hotel in 2016 which was a catalyst for an escalation in the Hutch/Kinahan feud. 

An arrest warrant had been issued for his arrest in connection with the murder of Noel “Duck Egg” Kirwan in December 2016. It was seen as a revenge attack for the Regency murder because Kirwan was a friend of Gerry Hutch.

It is understood he was arrested by Dubai police in the Emirati city this morning – McGovern has been hiding out there since 2016. 

He has been named in the Special Criminal Court by Detective Superintendent David Gallagher while giving evidence in the trial of Michael Crotty, who is accused of facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan in 2016 by buying a mobile phone top-up for Sean McGovern.

He has also been identified in US sanctions documents against the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.

This evening, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris commended those involved in the process of the investigation. 

“This has been a very long process and investigation that has involved international partners – started off by our late colleague John O’Driscoll with great skill, capacity and energy and we are following through on the foundations that he laid,” Harris told reporters.

“We have always said that we are resolute and relentless in the pursuit the members of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. They are Irish nationals that have created misery throughout the world, involved in very serious criminality and are a murderous gang of drug dealers.

“They remain a priority target and a lot of our energy and effort is to bring the overall leadership to justice.”

Following the arrest Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD welcomed the news and hailed the international co-operation.

“While I cannot comment on an individual case, any person involved in organised crime should know there is no hiding place; 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,” she said. 

In the statement McEntee took credit for the deployment of a garda liaison officer to Abu Dhabi to liaise with police in the United Arab Emirates and other locations and said that it has established “excellent co-operation”. 

“Dubai police also travelled to Dublin recently to assist members of An Garda Síochána with a large transnational organised crime investigation arising from the seizure of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine on the MV Matthew off the coast of Waterford,” she added. 

McEntee said said she was involved in the Government approval to open negotiations with the UAE on bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance.

“Good progress is being made.

“I would like to acknowledge the leading role played by former Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll in creating and maintaining networks with other police services around the world to tackle transnational organised crime gangs. These networks are now well-established and of vital importance, which is a very fitting legacy to John after his untimely passing recently,” she said. 

Seán McGovern 

David Gallagher is one of Ireland’s leading gangland detectives – he has given what is known as “belief evidence” in the Central Criminal Court stating that McGovern is heavily involved in the organisation of the Kinhan gang. 

He told the court that Sean McGovern is connected to that organisation and added: “He is a significant figure within the organisation in a leadership role and is currently based in Dubai.”

In the US Treasury sanctions document McGovern connections with the Kinahan Organised Crime Group are laid out. 

They claimed that he was involved with a cover company being used by the gang to launder money. 

McGovern “was designated for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Daniel Kinahan”.

The document alleged that McGovern: “is Daniel Kinahan’s advisor and closest confidant, and evidence indicates that all dealings with Daniel Kinahan go through Sean McGovern. Sean McGovern also has managed communications on behalf of Daniel Kinahan, and he sells multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine”.