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Suspected Kinahan gang leader faces extradition

Gabija GataveckaiteBBC News NI Dublin correspondent
News imageCollins Photo Agency Daniel Kinahan, a man with short dark hair and a stubbly beard, pictured at a funeral in 2016. He is wearing a grey peaked cap, a black shirt and a black coat with the collar pulled up.Collins Photo Agency
Daniel Kinahan pictured in 2016 at the funeral of shooting victim David Byrne

Suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan is to be extradited back to Ireland, BBC News NI understands.

He was arrested in Dubai under a warrant issued by the Irish courts in April but has fought attempts to extradite him.

However, his appeals have been unsuccessful and he is due to be flown back to Ireland within weeks.

Gardaí (Irish police) now expect authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to sign his extradition which will formally commence the extradition process.

Gardaí expect this will take place very quickly.

Bringing the suspected gang leader back to Ireland will now be the subject of a major security operation between the gardaí and the Irish Defence Forces.

The US government imposed sanctions on him in April 2022 after he and other members of his family were identified as leaders of the Kinahan organised crime cartel.

Kinahan also had ties to the world of sport via his now defunct boxing management company MTK Global, which represented more than 100 boxers including Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton.

However, Kinahan is now expected to face the Irish courts in the coming weeks and has previously been named as the head of the drug cartel.

The Irish authorities are expected to prosecute him for his involvement in leading an organised crime group.

An extradition agreement is in place between the UAE and Ireland and it was used to extradite Sean McGovern, a "senior lieutenant" in the organised crime group.

He was sentenced to 24 years in prison last month for directing the activities of a criminal organisation.

Hutch-Kinahan feud

News imageCAROLINE QUINN/GETTY IMAGES A garda (Irish police) cordon outside the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016. A white and blue liveried garda van and car are parked outside a four-storey hotel at dusk on a wet evening. A white a blue cordon tape stretches across an entrance to the hotel car park. CAROLINE QUINN/GETTY IMAGES
Gangland rivals tried to shoot Daniel Kinahan during a boxing weigh-in event in Dublin's Regency Hotel 10 years ago

On 5 February 2016, an attempt was made on Kinahan's life in what became known as the Regency Hotel shooting.

One of his associates, David Byrne, was shot dead, while two others were shot and injured.

This incident was part of what became known as the Hutch-Kinahan feud which has so far cost 18 lives.

In a statement to BBC NI, the gardaí said they are "aware of the arrest and ongoing detention of an Irish national in the United Arab Emirates".

"Any questions on the arrest and detention of the Irish national in Dubai remains a matter for the authorities in the United Arab Emirates at this time," they said.

"An Garda Síochána has been steadfast in our determination that we would pursue those allegedly involved in serious organised criminal activity, wherever they go.

"An Garda Síochána has developed many major international partnerships in our efforts to target transnational organised crime groups," the statement added.