Daniel Kinahan to appear before Special Criminal Court next week to have trial date set

Daniel Kinahan viewed Monday's proceedings via video-link from Portlaoise Prison but will be produced in-person for next week's sitting

Daniel Kinahan, aged 49, was due to be served with the book of evidence and have a trial date set in his case at the three-judge, non-jury court on Monday afternoon. File picture

Daniel Kinahan will appear before the Special Criminal Court next week, when a solicitor will formally apply to come on record to act in his defence.

Mr Kinahan, aged 49, was due to be served with the book of evidence and have a trial date set in his case at the three-judge, non-jury court on Monday afternoon.

However, David Perry BL told the court that solicitor Darragh Mackin was unable to attend Monday's sitting due to unexpected professional difficulties. 

Mr Perry asked the court to adjourn the matter to next Monday, when Mr Mackin will make a formal application to come on record.

Mr Kinahan viewed Monday's proceedings via video-link from Portlaoise Prison but will be produced in-person for next week's sitting.

Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, presiding, agreed to adjourn the matter to next week.

Mr Kinahan is charged that between October 18, 2015 and April 6, 2017, both dates inclusive, he directed the activities of a criminal organisation, contrary to section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, and as applied by section 74 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

The prosecution is being led by Dean Kelly SC with Tessa White BL.

The Government jet flew to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai in August to return Mr Kinahan to Ireland following an extradition request. He landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on August 9 and was brought immediately to the Special Criminal Court to be charged.

Mr Kinahan left Ireland in 2016 after he was alleged to have been the target of an assassination attempt at a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. 

David Byrne lost his life in the attack but Mr Kinahan was unhurt. 

He has been living for several years in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he is said to have multiple assets.

In 2024, the Government entered into a formal extradition treaty with the UAE to facilitate the surrender of people accused or convicted of crimes. Mr Kinahan challenged his extradition but a court in Dubai ruled that he should be surrendered to the Irish authorities so that he can face trial here.

It is alleged that a feud between the Kinahan and Hutch organised crime groups in Dublin has led to 18 murders.