Podcast: Trapped in Dubai - the Kinahan crime gang

Earlier this week, one of the most senior figures in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group pled guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a criminal gang in relation to the murder of one man and the surveillance of another. Sean McGovern was arraigned on the two charges on Monday and replied "guilty" to both. Author and crime reporter Barry Cummins was in court and told Behind the Story that McGovern is a significant figure. ”

Sean McGovern is one of the people who was shot at the Regency Hotel in February 2016," he said. "

He was shot in the abdomen and CCTV footage would show he came out the front of the hotel - he was what you'd call the walking wounded. "

He was later treated in hospital but discharged himself." McGovern later became a leading figure in the Kinahan crime gang. Extradited from Dubai In April 2022 at a press conference in Dublin, US authorities announced sanctions on several members of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, which included Sean McGovern.

Also in attendance were An Garda Síochána, the UK's National Crime Agency and Europol. What singled McGovern out from the others - though - was an arrest warrant, as Mr Cummins explains. "

What happened that day was it was made public that Sean McGovern was subject to an arrest warrant that had been issued by the High Court," he said. "

It was being made public that day that Dubai was a centre of operations, along with other places, of the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang. "

It did take two more years before he was arrested in Dubai." He was the first person to be extradited to Ireland from the United Arab Emirates to face trial. Mr Cummins said the US decided to get involved, offering a total reward of up to $15m. ”

The DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration] is everywhere - it was in the Middle East; it could see what was happening with the Kinahans, it could see the links back to the US," he said. "

It’s all about following the cash. "

The dirty money is mixed with clean money, and something that may be happening in the most remote part of the US may be directly linked to what’s happening in Dubai and Ireland. "

That’s what brought the Americans into the room." Narrowing world Mr Cummins said the Kinahan crime group are likely to remain in Dubai, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. ”

The world of the Kinahans has narrowed," he said. "

But it’s still a comfortable existence; so, you could say they’re, in a sense, trapped where they are but in a fairly comfortable life. "

And what happens next is the big question." Sean McGovern has been remanded in custody for sentencing next month. You can listen to Behind the Story on the RTÉ Radio Player. You can also find episodes on Apple here, or on Spotify here.