The man once described by US officials as “Daniel Kinahan’s right hand man” has been charged with murder following his extradition from Dubai. 

39-year-old Sean McGovern, originally from Drimnagh, left the United Arab Emirates on a military aircraft on Wednesday and touched down at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell at 6.30 yesterday evening. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney said there was “no waiting around once they touched the ground”. 

“Sean McGovern was swiftly arrested on suspicion of a number of offences, including the murder of Noel Kirwan,” Mr Greaney said. 

“He was then taken by Garda convoy to the Criminal Courts of Justice for the evening sitting of the Special Criminal Court.

“The convoy, including several blacked out Audis, arrived at the court house under heavy armed guard, blue lights flashing, sirens blaring.”

There was a large media presence at both Casement Aerodrome and at the Criminal Courts of Justice, waiting for Mr McGovern’s arrival after so many years in Dubai. 

“There was no perp walk like you might see in the movies because the CCJ complex is set up in such a way that prisoners can be brought into the building through secure entry points,” Mr Greaney said. 

“There was an increased security presence in the Criminal Courts of Justice throughout the day yesterday. 

“Security at the Special Criminal Court is always tight given the nature of the cases that that court hears from day to day. 

“But even more so yesterday - with armed Gardaí on patrol both inside and outside the building.” 

Once inside the building, Mr McGovern appeared before three judges and the hearing was brief, lasting only 15 minutes. 

“For the first time, the five charges he faces were laid out formally in open court,” Mr Greaney said. 

“He has been charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan - who was an innocent man who was shot dead while in his car with his partner just a few days before Christmas 2016. 

“This was at the height of the Kinahan-Hutch feud; Mr Kirwan had absolutely no involvement in criminality. 

“He was targeted by the Kinahan Cartel after being pictured with Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch at Gerry Hutch’s brother’s, Eddie’s, funeral. 

“He’s also facing a charge of directing the activity of a criminal organisation related to that murder of Mr Kirwan and of facilitating the murder. 

“He’s also facing charges of a separate plot to murder a gangland rival called James Gately.” 

Kinahan Cartel

Mr Greaney described the extradition as likely to have a “chilling effect” on the Kinahan Cartel, who have for many years quite contentedly lived in the UAE. 

“It shows that the UAE, where many of the senior members of the organised crime group base themselves, shows that it’s no longer the safe haven that it once was perceived to be,” he said. 

“In the past, you didn’t have an extradition agreement between Ireland and the UAE. 

“So, when hardened criminals found themselves and settled themselves there, it was very, very difficult for police authorities here in Ireland to extradite them back to Ireland to face serious charges.”

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.