Kinahan to apply for bail in coming weeks, court hears

Daniel Kinahan, 49, will seek bail in the coming weeks, a Dublin court was told.

The alleged leader of the Kinahan organised crime group appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday, charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 18 October 2015 and 6 April 2017. He wore a grey suit, black shirt and glasses and did not speak during the brief hearing.

Kinahan was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on 15 April under an Irish arrest warrant and, following a bilateral extradition agreement, was flown to Ireland on a Government jet in August. He was escorted by a high‑speed Garda convoy to the Special Criminal Court, where he was formally charged.

Solicitor Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, Belfast, applied to be recorded as Kinahan’s counsel and said his firm will lodge papers and apply for bail through the High Court in due course. Mackin highlighted the need to factor expert examination of digital evidence into the trial timetable and sought full disclosure of two investigations in which Kinahan was acquitted – one in Spain and another in Dubai.

Prosecution barrister Dominic McGinn SC noted the “complex factual matrix” of the single charge, with a 189‑page statement of fact and a book of evidence that will take several weeks to prepare. Kinahan was remanded in custody and is due to appear again on 21 December, before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, Her Hon. Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Kevin Staunton.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: David Guerrero / Pexels.