Extradition net closing in on Kinahans

Justice Minister Helen McEntee will seek Cabinet approval to open formal extradition negotiations with the United Arab Emirates

A wanted poster of Christopher Kinahan Jnr, Daniel Kinahan and Christopher Vincent Kinahan.

The extradition net is closing on members of the Kinahan crime gang as Ireland enters official negotiations with the United Arab Emirates.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee will seek Cabinet approval on Tuesday to open formal negotiations with the UAE on new extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties.

However, sources have stressed that "bilateral co-operation" can happen in tandem with these discussions to allow extraditions take place before the final agreement is reached. This happened in the case of Italy and Belgium.

The move follows high-level engagement between Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the UAE authorities, including his visit to Dubai in recent weeks to meet with Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri.