Dubliner Sean McGovern, named by US law enforcement as a senior figure at the apex of the Kinahan cartel, appeared before a sitting of the Special Criminal Court on Thursday evening after his extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He is charged in relation to the Kinahan-Hutch feud murder of Noel Kirwan (62), conspiracy to murder another man, directing a crime organisation and enhancing the capacity of a crime organisation.
The murder charge he faces carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, while the offence of directing a criminal organisation carries a sentence of up to a life term.
The father of two was taken to court in a convoy of Garda vehicles, with armed gardaí also posted outside the court.
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Olan Callanan BL, for Mr McGovern, said his client was reserving his position in relation to the “lawfulness of his arrest” and the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court.
Mr McGovern is the first Irish person to be extradited from the UAE and the first alleged Kinahan cartel member arrested there.
Acting Garda Commissioner Shawna Cox described his return to the Republic as a “precedence-setting case” in terms of possible future extraditions of suspects living in Dubai.
The 39-year-old accused, originally from Drimnagh in Dublin, had been in detention in the UAE since his arrest at his Dubai home last October on foot of an extradition request from the Irish authorities.
He arrived into Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, on an Air Corps Casa C295 plane just before 6.30pm on Thursday. He was escorted on the flight by gardaí and Defence Forces personnel.
Mr McGovern was arrested on touchdown in Ireland before being immediately brought under armed Garda escort across the city to the Criminal Courts of Justice in the north inner city for a special sitting.
He appeared before Ms Justice Karen O’Connor, Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge Gráinne Malone and sat impassively during the hearing, with the body of the court full of journalists and Garda members.
He was dressed in grey tracksuit bottoms, a light grey t-shirt, “slides” footwear, white socks and had his head shaven. He spoke only briefly during the hearing, standing and confirming his name when asked to do so.
Giving evidence, Det Sgt Donal Daly told the court he arrested Mr McGovern at 6.38pm at Casement Aerodrome on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court.
He further met with Mr McGovern at 7.27pm in a holding cell at the Criminal Courts of Justice where he said he explained the nature of the charges to him in “ordinary language”.
Mr McGovern was charged with the December 22nd, 2016, murder of Christopher ‘Noel’ Kirwan on St Ronan’s Drive, Clondalkin. He is also charged with directing a criminal organisation between October 20th and December 22nd, 2016, and with enhancing the capacity of a criminal organisation between the same dates, all in relation to the Kirwan murder.
Separately, he is charged with directing a criminal organisation between October 17th, 2015, and April 6th, 2017 in relation to the surveillance of Dubliner James Gately in preparation for the commission of indictable offence.
He was further charged with facilitating a criminal organisation engaged in a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately between the same dates.
Mr McGovern was remanded in custody to appear before the same court on June 5th where he will appear by video link from Portlaoise Prison.
In a statement before the court appearance, Garda headquarters said a man had been extradited from the UAE having “been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice”, which requests other countries to arrest a named suspect if they are located.
“An Garda Síochána has developed major international partnerships in our efforts to target transnational organised crime groups,” the Garda statement added.
“Our relationship with authorities across the world, including with the Ministry of Justice at judicial level in the United Arab Emirates, and on a police-to-police basis, is valued and one which we will continue to develop. This relationship has been supported by Irish governmental and diplomatic efforts.”
