Bringing Daniel Kinahan to attend court in person will cost taxpayers an estimated €50,000 per day, a source has told Newstalk.
The alleged gangland leader was extradited from the UAE to Ireland in August, following years of investigation and negotiation between Dublin and Dubai.
Upon arrival, he was brought before the Special Criminal Court and charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation.
Today, Kinahan returns to court and his case is listed for 2pm.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney explained that significant Garda resources have been put in place to allow him to attend in person.
“On the last occasion when he was brought before the Special Criminal Court for the first time having been extradited from the UAE back in August, he was told that he would have the option of attending in person or joining the court proceedings via a video link from Portlaoise Prison where he has been held on remand since August,” he said.
“Reports now suggesting that he won't actually be attending in person and if that is the case and again he is entitled to join the proceedings remotely from the prison where he's being held.
“A source has told me that it could cost up to €50,000 to bring Daniel Kinahan to court on any given day and that is because of the huge security operation that is required.”
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Kinahan is currently on remand in Portlaoise Prison, alongside a number of former members of the Kinahan Cartel.
It means that he will have to be transported daily from the Midlands to Dublin during any trial.
“There's been a lot reported about a bulletproof, bomb-proof prison van that has been acquired by the Irish Prison Service to accommodate him being brought to and from Portlaoise Prison that hasn't been rolled out,” Mr Greaney said.
“I understand if he was to attend in person today we may have seen it for the first time.
“But we'll know for sure after 2 o'clock whether or not Daniel Kinahan is going to be in the building but the case will go on whether or not he is.”
Whatever the case, today’s hearing is procedural in nature and will see the book of evidence handed over to Kinahan’s defence team if it is ready.
Main image: Daniel Kinahan. Picture by: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.
