Government jet departs for Dubai to extradite Daniel Kinahan to Ireland

Daniel Kinahan, 49, was arrested in Dubai in April. File picture: Collins Dublin.

The Government jet has departed for Dubai as part of a high-security operation to return Daniel Kinahan to Ireland following the failure of his appeal against extradition.

The air corp's Dassault Falcon 6X, callsign Irl290, took off at around 10.30am on Saturday and is expected to arrive in the United Arab Emirates later this evening.

Mr Kinahan, 49, was arrested in Dubai in April after An Garda Síochána sought his extradition under the bilateral extradition agreement signed between Ireland and the UAE in 2024.

The alleged leader of the Kinahan organised crime group has since lost his appeal against extradition and is now expected to be returned to Ireland to face a charge of directing the activities of an organised crime group.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Government jet is due to land at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, on Sunday afternoon.

A major security operation has been put in place involving An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the Irish Prison Service to facilitate Mr Kinahan's return.

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.

Mr Kinahan has been living in Dubai for several years, including during the height of the Kinahan-Hutch feud, before his arrest earlier this year.

His extradition marks a significant development in the long-running Garda investigation into the Kinahan organised crime group and follows years of cooperation between Irish and Emirati authorities.