Alleged Irish crime boss Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation

Alleged Irish crime gang boss Daniel Kinahan was charged with directing a criminal organisation by prosecutors in Dublin on Sunday (Aug 9) amid tight security at a special court sitting following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates.



Kinahan, who was arrested in Dubai in April, was named by the United States in 2022 as one of three leaders of the Kinahan Organised crime Group.



US authorities offered a US$5 million reward for their arrests.



He was handed over to Irish authorities in Dubai earlier on Sunday and flown by Irish government jet to a military base on the outskirts of Dublin.



He was then taken directly to the court for a highly unusual Sunday night sitting and was remanded in custody afterwards.



Kinahan, who was dressed in a black hoodie, black trousers and was wearing flip-flops, said he understood the charges and was told by one of the three judges that a bail application could only be made through the High Court.



Armed police guarded the entrance of the courthouse. Crowds watched and recorded on their phones as unmarked police cars sped away after the brief hearing.