‘I think we know I won’t be getting bail’: Daniel Kinahan charged with directing organised crime

Daniel Kinahan has been charged with directing an organised crime group between 2015 and 2017. He appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Sunday evening amid an extensive security operation as crowds gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the alleged gang leader.The sitting began just after 8pm, less than two hours after Kinahan’s extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Government jet, which landed at Casement Aerodrome, Co Dublin.Dressed in a black hoodie top, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers, the 49-year-old looked older in person than in the most recent images of him in circulation in the media. He surveyed the court, which was packed with Garda members, journalists and members of the public, throughout the 15-minute hearing.Daniel Kinahan (back, right) leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Sunday, where he was remanded in custody charged with directing an organised crime group, after being extradited from Dubai. Photograph: Mark Marlow/PA Wire At the start of the hearing Judge Patrick McGrath addressed Kinahan, who immediately stood up, and asked him if it was correct he was not legally represented.READ MORE“Yes, that’s correct, your honour. I didn’t have time to arrange anything,” he said, saying he had been in isolation since last Friday, on remand in a Dubai prison, in advance of his extradition on Sunday. “I assumed a family member would have contacted some legal representation.”Armed gardaí outside the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Sunday evening. Photograph: Conor Ó Mearáin/Collins It was also explained to him by McGrath that if he was to apply for bail then that application would have to be made to the High Court.“I understand. I think we know I won’t be getting bail, but thank you for explaining that, judge,” he told McGrath.Kinahan also said “I understand everything, thank you, your honour”, when he was told he would appear again on October 5th and would have time to put in place a legal team before that date.When the judge gave him the option of appearing in court at his next scheduled appearance by video-link, rather than in person, Kinahan replied: “Do I have to decide now, your honour?”Kinahan was told he could give his decision before the next sitting.Daniel Kinahan He faces a single charge of “directing the activities of a criminal organisation” between October 18th, 2015, and April 6th, 2017.The alleged offence is contrary to section 71a of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, 2009, and as applied by section 74 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009.Det Sgt Colin Davidson of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau told the three-judge court he arrested Kinahan at 6.49pm on Sunday at Casement Aerodrome. He said he explained the charge to him and that Kinahan replied he understood what had been said.Davidson said he handed Kinahan a copy of the charge sheet later on Sunday, in the court building just before the hearing, and explained it to him in clear language.When the hearing ended, Kinahan was taken by gardaí, travelling in a convoy of vehicles, to Portlaoise Prison, where he is to remain on remand pending his trial unless granted bail. A section of the landing in the jail, which would normally accommodate about eight prisoners, has been cleared for him. The married father of five earlier on Sunday became the first Irish person extradited from the UAE under a new permanent extradition treaty, which came into force last year. He has lived in Dubai with his wife and children for the last 10 years and has not been in Ireland during that period.The Government jet carrying Daniel Kinahan landing at Casement Aerodrome on Sunday. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire Kinahan was brought back to Dublin on the Government jet, flown by Air Corps personnel and with a team of gardaí on board. He was arrested in Dubai in April on foot of an extradition request from Ireland and had been in custody there until extradited on Sunday.