Daniel Kinahan wakes up in max security Irish prison cell charged with directing crime organisation after life in Dubai

A MAN accused of being an organised crime boss has woken up in an Irish jail after several years of living in Dubai. Daniel Kinahan, 49, was flown to Ireland on an Irish Government jet on Sunday, and immediately taken by high-speed Garda escort to court in Dublin. Alleged Irish crime gang boss Daniel Kinahan leaving the Special Criminal Court last night Daniel Kinahan (back, right) leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin after being remanded in custody Credit: Mark Marlow/PA Wire He was last night charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation. With no legal representation, the Dublin man was remanded into custody and transferred to the maximum-security Portlaoise Prison in the Irish midlands. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Kinahan was brought to Portlaoise by Gardai who drove in a convoy of BMWs and was admitted to the A-block. Some of the most high-profile residents in the prison and others facing trial at the Special Criminal Court are housed in the wing. Daniel Kinahan was admitted to A-block in Portlaoise Prison last night Armed gardai surrounded the prison as Kinahan arrived Credit: GARY ASHE commissioned by The Sun Dublin Sources say that Gerard Cruise, serving a seven-year sentence for his logistical role in the run up and after the murder of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready Woods in 2020, was moved out of a cell to make way for Kinahan in Unit 4 of Ireland’s most secure jail block. The cell was “refreshed” according to sources, cleaned and given a fresh lick of paint. Kinahan, alleged to be a leader of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on April 15 on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts. This was carried out in accordance with a bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the UAE. Most read in The Sun After the plane left Dubai on Sunday, the justice ministers for Ireland and the UAE welcomed the extradition in a joint statement. Jim O’Callaghan and Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi said the Irish national being extradited was “regarded as one of the most high-profile individuals sought for prosecution in connection with transnational organised crime”. They confirmed the extradition after a formal request submitted by Irish authorities, and the final decision was issued after a judgment by the Dubai Court of Cassation, in accordance with the extradition treaty between the two countries. The two ministers added that the final extradition decision “reflects the steadfast commitment of both countries to the rule of law and reinforces international judicial co-operation”. Crowds gathered outside both the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on the outskirts of Dublin yesterday for the landing of the plane, and the Special Criminal Court, to try to get a glimpse of Mr Kinahan. They watched two separate high speed convoys pass by, in an additional precaution, to transport the man believed to have been the target of a gun attack at a boxing weigh-in in Dublin in 2016. Inside the court room, the dock was checked by gardai before Kinahan appeared, alongside several other gardai, for a hearing which lasted about 14 minutes. At the judge-led hearing, Judge Fiona Lydon, Judge Patrick McGrath and Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley sat in the court which tries terrorism and organised crime cases. Kinahan told the court he had been isolated from Friday afternoon, adding that he believed a family member would have contacted a legal representative on his behalf, and he was happy to proceed. He did not react after being charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 18 2015 and April 6 2017. Detective Sergeant Colin Davidson told the court that he had arrested Kinahan on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel at 6.49pm that day. He said he ensured that the accused understood the charge. Judge McGrath told Kinahan when the case would next be heard, and explained to him that because of the charge an application for bail would have to be made to the High Court. Mr Kinahan said: “I understand. I think we know I won’t be getting bail, but thank you.” He will next appear in court on October 5, and was told that he has the option of either attending in person or appearing via video link. He said he would decide later.