Sean McGovern(Image: Mick O'Neill)

Daniel Kinahan's right-hand man Sean McGovern arrested in Dubai

This is the most significant arrest in the Garda crackdown on the Kinahan cartel to date

10 Oct 2024, 09:01 by Paul Healy · Irish Mirror

Mob boss Daniel Kinahan’s right-hand man Sean McGovern has been arrested in Dubai.

Police in the United Arab Emirates have detained McGovern, who is wanted for murder in Ireland on the foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued in April 2022.

This is the most significant arrest in the Garda crackdown on the Kinahan cartel to date.

McGovern, considered to be the most trusted associate of cartel boss Daniel Kinahan, is wanted over the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan - an innocent dad-of-two who was gunned down outside his Dublin home because he was photographed at a funeral with Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch.

Gardai announced the European Arrest Warrant against McGovern at a major press conference that also saw the United States Department of Treasury issue sanctions against the leadership of the Kinahan cartel in April 2022.

Wanted posters displayed at a press conference at Dublin City Hall after it was announced that the US government is offering five million dollars for information on the Irish Kinahan crime gang or for the arrest and conviction of its leaders. Picture date: Tuesday April 12, 2022.

McGovern fled to Dubai, where he believed he would be safe from extradition.

In that time the leadership of An Garda Siochana have met with the Dubai police a number of times.

McGovern, who was also one of the men injured during the attack at the Regency Hotel in 2016, was in January named in the Special Criminal Court as a significant figure in a leadership role in the Kinahan organised crime group.

The non-jury court heard sworn testimony on the command structure and activities of the Kinahan cartel, as well as evidence that 33 people linked to the organisation who were "going to be involved in violence and murder" have been arrested by investigating gardaí.

Detective Superintendent David Gallagher was 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.

Michael Crotty (42) of Slí Aonghusa, Aras na Rí, Cashel, Co Tipperary. Pic Collins Courts

In his opening speech before the courts, Dominic McGinn SC, for the prosecution, alleged that Mr Crotty purchased the mobile phone credit at a Spar shop in Naas, Co Kildare, on December 21, 2016 on behalf of Mr McGovern.

Detective Superintendent Gallagher agreed 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."

Earlier this year the Garda Commissioner gave a major speech at the World Police Summit in Dubai, in which he spoke about working with authorities around the globe to bring the Kinahan cartel to justice.

"It takes a network to defeat a criminal network. A striking example of this is the work that we’ve been doing along with international colleagues in the US, UK, Spain, Europol and here in Dubai to bring an end to the Kinahan organised crime gang," he said.

The Garda chief went on to say that while many Kinahan cartel criminals had been convicted in Ireland - efforts to bring its leaders back to Ireland continue.

As part of the visit Commissioner Harris, who is in Dubai with a small garda delegation - also met with His Excellency Lt General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police.

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