Kinahan cartel arrest: Is Dubai no longer a safe haven for Irish criminals?

Even when Interpol slapped a “Red Notice” on Sean McGovern, the Irish career criminal hiding out in Dubai was probably not too concerned.

That Red Notice came about because the DPP in Ireland directed that McGovern, Daniel Kinahan’s closest and most trusted lieutenant, should face charges relating to the 2016 murder of Noel Kirwan (62) as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud and the notice requested police authorities around the world to find and arrest the Dubliner.

McGovern would likely have considered the UAE a safe haven, far from the reaches of US and European law enforcement agencies. But he was wrong. Last Thursday morning he was finally arrested at his home in Dubai.

So what has changed in the UAE, where authorities have proven to be notoriously reluctant to co-operate with extradition requests from western law enforcement agencies.

What will happen to McGovern now? And what does it mean for the Kinahan cartel leadership who consider themselves safe in Dubai – father Christy and his sons Daniel, Christy jnr? Could they also be on their way back to Dublin to face justice in the near future?

Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains the background.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

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