Gardaí arrested 189 crime gang figures in past year under special laws targeting criminal gangs

Sean McGovern received a 24-year-sentence for directing a criminal organisation in relation to the murder of Noel Kirwan December 2016. Picture: Garda.ie

Use of special gangland laws reached a new record in the last year, with 189 arrests — 37 more than the previous year.

The arrests were made under landmark 2009 laws targeting gang bosses and lieutenants as well as foot soldiers and associates who aid criminal outfits.

The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 makes certain crimes under a sister 2006 act scheduled offences under the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

This means charges are brought before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, unless the Director of Public Prosecutions diverts them to the normal courts.

Government figures show 189 arrests were carried out in the year to May 2026 for offences relating to directing, participating in, or carrying out a criminal offence for a criminal organisation.

It marks a new record for arrests under the legislation, topping the 152 arrests the previous year, representing an increase of 24%.

The main offences are: directing the activities of a criminal organisation (Section 71A); participating in or contributing to a criminal organisation (Section 72), and committing an offence for such an organisation (Section 73).

An official report on the use of the 2009 act reveals:

• 189 arrests were carried out between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, compared to 152 the previous year, and 112 the year before that;
• Seven arrests for directing (Section 71a), compared to 13 the previous year and the same number the year before that;
• 165 arrests for participating in/contributing to (Section 72), compared to 114 the previous year and 92 the year before that;
• 17 arrests for committing an offence for a criminal organisation, compared to 25 arrests the previous year, and seven the year before that.

Gardaí said there had been a total of 1,205 arrests under the provisions to date.

A total of 33 charges were laid before the courts in the last year, but only one was brought before the Special Criminal Court.

Five of the charges were for directing a criminal organisation, which has a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.

There were three convictions in the year to May, which is before the conviction of Kinahan cartel lieutenant Sean McGovern earlier this month.

The 40-year-old from Crumlin, south Dublin, received a 24-year-sentence for directing a criminal organisation in relation to the murder of Noel Kirwan, an innocent man targeted over his personal friendship with Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch in December 2016.

McGovern was also convicted for targeting and monitoring Hutch gang lieutenant James Gately with a view to having him shot dead, which did not take place.

The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009 has to be renewed by the Oireachtas every year and a report on the operation of the provisions is provided annually to members to assist in the process.