Encrypted texts key evidence against 'senior lieutenant' in Kinahan gang, court hears

Encrypted texts and tracker devices seized by Gardaí (Irish police) are key in the Republic of Ireland's evidence against a senior figure in the international Kinahan crime gang.

A court in Dublin heard Sean McGovern was a "senior lieutenant operating on the ground in Ireland" for the crime group.

How the state deals with McGovern's case is a likely indicator as to how it will treat alleged crime boss Daniel Kinahan's case, who is facing extradition from Dubai after his recent arrest.

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

McGovern, who was also living in Dubai, had previously been extradited back to Ireland.

McGovern has pleaded guilty to two charges - directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 20 October 2016 and 20 December 2016 in connection with the murder of Noel Kirwan. And directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 17 October 2015 and 6 April 2017 in relation to the surveillance of rival Hutch gang member James Gately in preparation for a serious offence.

McGovern's case is being dealt with in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, a three judge court with no jury.

The court heard details of how the two men were targeted by the Kinahan organised crime group - James 'Mago' Gately because he carried the coffin of Gary Hutch at his funeral and Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan because he attended the funeral of Eddie Hutch.

Detective Garda Superintendent David Gallagher told the court of the encrypted messages gardaí obtained which showed how the Hutch-Kinahan row escalated after a shooting in the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016, in which McGovern was shot.

In laying out the evidence against McGovern in relation to the surveillance of Gately, six strands of evidence were laid out, including telephone data, GPS tracking devices and CCTV evidence obtained by gardaí.

Encrypted devices also formed part of this evidence and gardaí seized three devices from McGovern.

Criminals used code names to communicate with each other on these encrypted devices, with McGovern named 'Knife'.

In one text, McGovern writes: "All weasels get caught in the end".

The texts also show McGovern sharing tracker information on Gately with associates.

Encrypted texts from Imre Arakas to an unidentified senior member of the Kinahan organised crime group shows discussion between the two individuals on the best places to target Gately.

Arakas text messages show him saying "silencer would be good", he says "if picture on Google is the same as in real life it could be one shot to the head and that's it".

Arakas was arrested by gardaí and unable to carry out the planned attack. He was later jailed for conspiring to kill Gately.

McGovern then discussed with an associate who the "rat" may be in the plan being disrupted by gardaí.

He texts: "Me and you ain't any rats we are the ones up to our bollox [sic] in it".

An associate of his messaged him a separate time, saying they will "have mago within two to four weeks" in reference to attacking Gately.

McGovern replied: "Best news of the year that will be once everyone is safe".

After the failed attack, one associate texts: "We have to change tactics mate" and McGovern replies: "100pc or all going to jail with stitch ups mate".

The court also heard garda evidence from Det Sgt Donal Daly, who spoke about tracker evidence recovered from devices placed on the car of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan.

Det Daly detailed how Gardaí were able to extract forensic evidence from a laptop's screen and keypad used by McGovern as well as an instruction manual hidden behind a mirror in a safehouse apartment used by the Kinahan cartel.

The court also heard a witness impact statement from Donna Kerwin, Kerwin's daughter who said the family has "been stripped of everything".

"We will have to life with this nightmare every day for the rest of our lives."

She said her dad was an innocent man who was not involved in crime and the only thing he was guilty of "was showing his respect at a childhood friends funeral".

"You will get out one day to live a normal life with your children. We will never have that."

The sentencing hearing at the Special Criminal Court resumes on Friday.