Senior Kinahan crime cartel member Sean McGovern has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates in relation to a Kinahan-Hutch feud murder and for directing organised crime.
Irish authorities are seeking his extradition to Ireland, despite there being no extradition treaty between the two countries.
The Irish Examiner understands that McGovern will be brought to a court in Dubai for a judge to decide whether he can be lawfully extradited to Ireland – and if he can challenge any such decision.
McGovern is considered second in ranking to cartel leader Daniel Kinahan.
The arrest marks a major breakthrough in the mammoth garda investigation into the Kinahan leadership and in securing the assistance of police and justice authorities in the UAE to make such an arrest.
Ireland has no extradition agreement with the UAE, although the Department of Justice has been working on the matter for the last year.
The Irish Examiner reports that UAE authorities were not acting on a European Arrest Warrant issued in April 2022 by the Irish High Court for McGovern to face charges in Ireland, but on a recent formal request from the Department of Justice to their equivalent authority in the UAE.
It is also thought that a ‘Red Notice’ issued by Interpol, the international police organisation, also assisted in the Irish request.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.
As reported over a year ago, Garda efforts have been focused on Sean McGovern.
Unlike the Kinahan leaders, he is facing criminal charges, including of murder, in Ireland and has a European Arrest Warrant out against him.
McGovern is wanted in Ireland to face charges in relation to the fatal shooting of innocent man, Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan, 62, in December.
Daniel Kinahan is believed to have brought McGovern out to Dubai after that.
Gardaí have also submitted a file to the DPP in relation to Daniel Kinahan, recommending a charge of directing a criminal organisation.
