Daniel Kinahan extradition from Dubai shows there is 'no safe haven from justice' for gangland criminals
Daniel Kinahan, 49, was arrested in Dubai in April. File picture: Collins Dublin.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has paid tribute to gardaí and thanked Emirati authorities for “strong co-operation” to tackle global gangland criminality ahead of Daniel Kinahan’s return to Ireland.
It comes as crime boss Kinahan is being transported back to Dublin this Sunday afternoon on the Government jet.
He is expected to be arrested and charged by gardaí when the plane lands in Baldonnell, Dublin, shortly before 7pm, before being brought to the Special Criminal Court.
Speaking at the Tullamore Show, the Taoiseach said he did not want to prejudice any criminal cases and would not comment on Kinahan’s extradition.
However, he praised both the gardaí and the Emirati forces for ongoing and increased co-operation in recent years.
“Ireland has worked hard to develop strong partnerships at a global level, because international criminal activity is global, and the connections are global,” Mr Martin said.
“There is a closer collaboration and working together between countries all over the world in respect of threats to our respective societies and people.”
Mr Martin also said that he has “great confidence in An Garda Síochána” to manage security elements of any high-profile cases in the coming months.
He insisted that the State has the capacity to deal with any threats.
The Taoiseach continued: “We have dealt with threats to the State in the past, very serious threats over a long period of time.
“Gardaí, security forces are resilient in the face of those threats, and likewise in terms of the threats of modern gangland crime and the international dimension of that.
Defence minister Helen McEntee, who was justice minister when the extradition treaty with the UAE was signed, welcomed Kinhan's extradition.
“Today is the culmination of years of determined work by An Garda Síochána, successive Governments and officials to ensure that those suspected of serious and organised crime cannot evade the Irish justice system," she said.
“I want to pay particular tribute to the late John O’Driscoll and former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for their efforts to tackle serious organised crime and strengthen cooperation with our international law enforcement partners.
“As Minister for Justice and in the years leading up to the signing of the extradition treaty in October 2024, I saw first hand the tireless efforts of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Department of Justice and the UAE government, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and every agency involved in bringing us to this point.”
Kinahan’s extradition was confirmed in a joint statement by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, minister of justice of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
Kinahan was described as “one of the most high-profile individuals sought for prosecution in connection with transnational organised crime and is accused of directing an organised crime organisation”.
The ministers said that the extradition, which follows an extradition treaty agreed between the Irish and Emirati governments in October 2024, “reflects the steadfast commitment of both countries to the rule of law, reinforces international judicial cooperation, and demonstrates the effectiveness of their partnership in combating transnational organised crime”.
They also warned that it sends a “clear message” to gangland criminals that there is “no safe haven from justice”.
“I would like to express Ireland's deep appreciation for the support of the United Arab Emirates in handling the extradition request, and commend the professionalism, efficiency, and diligence demonstrated by the UAE judicial authorities throughout the extradition proceedings,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
“This decision is another landmark of judicial cooperation between the two countries and reflects the strength of our partnership to address transnational organised crime.”
The flight bringing Kinahan back to Ireland left Dubai at 10.19am Irish time, nearly an hour and a half after its scheduled departure. It is expected to land back in Ireland just at around 6.45pm tonight.
A large-scale security operation has been put in place in Dublin ahead of the aircraft's arrival at Casement Aerodrome.
The Government jet departed for Dubai on Saturday to return Mr Kinahan to Ireland following the failure of his appeal against extradition.
The Air Corps’ Dassault Falcon 6X, callsign Irl290, took off at around 10:30am on Saturday. It arrived in the United Arab Emirates yesterday evening.
The large-scale security operation facilitating the extradition involves An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Irish Prison Service.
Sources say the flight left Dubai just after 10.20am, Irish time. It is expected to land in Dublin at shortly before 7pm on Sunday evening.
On arrival, Mr Kinahan is expected to be transferred under heavy armed escort directly to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin.
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