Sean McGovern, the man described by US officials as Daniel Kinahan’s “closest confidant,” is being extradited back to Ireland.
For some time, McGovern has been based along with other leading members of the Kinahan cartel in Dubai.
An extradition treaty between Ireland and the United Arab Emirates cleared the way for his return to Dublin.
On Wednesday, Mr McGovern boarded an Irish Air Corps Airbus C295 from Al Maktoum International Airport and is due to land in Ireland today.
He will then be charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan, who was shot dead in the driveway of his Dublin home in December 2016.
“He was an innocent man, he was basically shot dead by the Kinahan cartel because he was spotted with Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch at Gerry’s brother’s, Eddie, funeral in 2016,” Mick O’Toole of The Irish Mirror explained to Newstalk Breakfast.
“The Kinahans really had it in for him and Gardaí have been investigating that.”
The 39-year-old Dubliner also faces a number of gangland charges as well, which Mr O’Toole described as “significant”.
“Directing a crime gang can carry up to life,” he said.
“That is a very, very serious sentence and it’s up to the judge’s discretion.
“So, they’re very, very serious charges.”
Legal process
Once he arrives, Mr McGovern will be taken straight to court to be formally charged.
“It will be Baldonnel, Casement Aerodrome; our guidance is he’ll probably land about five o’clock,” Mr O’Toole said.
“From there, he will be brought straight to the Criminal Court of Justice in central Dublin where the Special Criminal Court is located.
“He will appear in front of judges.”
Sean McGovern
Mr O’Toole continued that the extradition will be a big blow to the Kinahan cartel.
“He was described by the Americans in April 2022… as Daniel Kinahan’s ‘closest confidant’,” she said.
“Put it this way, I don’t think anybody is any higher in the Kinahan cartel without their name starting with a k.
“He is really at the top of the tree in the Kinahan cartel.”
The US State Department is offering a $5 million reward for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of Daniel Kinahan.
Main image: Sean McGovern. Picture by: An Garda Síochána.
