The Garda Commissioner says the arrest of Daniel Kinahan is not the end of the force’s investigation into the cartel - as he hailed the move as “very significant."
Commissioner Justin Kelly named Daniel Kinahan in public for the first time since his arrest in Dubai last Friday as he spoke to the media gathered at the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) in Westport, Co Mayo today.
Later, when asked by the Irish Mirror about whether gardai are still pursuing Christy Kinahan Sr and his son Christy Jr, the Commissioner indicated that the force’s work in the region hasn’t ended, as he said the cartel caused “murder and mayhem” in Ireland.
He also told of how gardai are now eagerly awaiting court proceedings in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and of his phone call with the head of the Dubai Police after the dramatic operation last Friday.
“So last Friday as you are all aware there were significant developments in our ongoing investigation into the Kinahan Organised Crime Group with the arrest of Daniel Kinahan in Dubai in the UAE. The work that led to this was very significant. There were a lot of players involved in the work behind the scenes in this case,” Commissioner Kelly said.
He went on to hail the work of Department of Justice and Department of Foreign Affairs officials - as well as the former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister’s Helen McEntee and Jim O’Callaghan for their work that led to last Friday’s arrest.
Asked by the Irish Mirror if gardai are now pursuing Kinahan’s father - the ‘Dapper Don’ Christy Kinahan - and his son Christy Jr, the Commissioner said he couldn’t comment directly on named individuals.
However he said: “What I would say is our investigation into this group absolutely continues.
So this is certainly not an end point to us. And again, I certainly want to repeat that. We're going to be relentless around individuals who have caused murder and mayhem here in Ireland and are responsible for, as you will all know, a significant number of homicides, including two innocent people.”
He added: “So, I mean, that's our focus. Our focus is on the victims, the victims' families and the destruction that they've caused to some of our societies here in Ireland. So that's our motivation. We're just going to continue that work. And for me as the Garda Commissioner and for Paul Cleary as Acting Deputy Commissioner and Shauna Coxton as the Deputy Commissioner, we're completely aligned about making sure that these units that are working, spearheading this work, they have all the capacity, they have all the international relations that they need to do that work really, really well. So, I mean, that's our sole focus at the moment.”
Earlier he paid tribute to the late Garda Assistant Commissioner John O’Driscoll, who tragically died in 2024 before he could see the results of the investigation into Kinahan.
“And then again, many of you, not just in the room but in the public, will remember our dear colleague Assistant Commissioner John O'Driscoll, now deceased. And John again was tireless in his work, not just around the Kinahan and Hutch feud, but generally in the fight against organised crime - and certainly over his many years of service brought us a long way in that fight,” he added.
The Commissioner went on to mention that thanks to the tireless efforts of the late Assistant Commissioner and the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, there was at one stage 45 suspects in prison in relation to “facilitating organised crime groups, firearms, drugs, all connected to this feud.”
“So I definitely want to remember John in this. The wider team then in An Garda Siochana, and again, as you will all appreciate, lots and lots of people involved in this, but I want to make particular mention to our Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau,” he added.
“So I think the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau are obviously at the absolute spearhead of our work that we're doing in targeting organised crime, particularly the transnational groups. The Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has been led for the last number of years by Detective Chief Superintendent Seamie Boland. Seamie and some of his team have been out to the UAE on a number of occasions to further this work.
“And I'll just go back to what I mentioned about former Commissioner Harris. In September 2023, myself and Drew went to Dubai and UAE. We met a number of people, obviously, in furtherance of our work targeting the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.”
The Commissioner also told of his strong relationship with the Commander in Chief of the Dubai Police - Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri - who he said he spoke to last Friday after the dramatic arrest in the UAE.
“I was absolutely delighted on Friday to speak to Lieutenant General Al Marri on the phone about the developments with Daniel Kinahan. And again, a very positive development, not just for ourselves and in AN Garda of Siochana, but also for Dubai Police. So, look, I think our work here continues,” he said.
The Commissioner was asked about whether he could give details about the arrest - and whether gardai were on the ground for the big moment. He was however reluctant to give many details on the operation - but indicated that gardai are now awaiting Kinahan’s extradition hearing in a UAE court.
“So, look, obviously, this is a matter for the authorities in the UAE. So there's a process there, a judicial process. So, I mean, for us, of course, we wait. We watch with anticipation to see how that will go,” he said.
He added that he did not know how long that process could take - but said gardai will continue to liaise with authorities on the matter.
Kinahan was arrested last week on the foot of an arrest warrant issued by the courts here. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that gardai can charge Kinahan (48) with directing a criminal organisation.
Gardai sent off a meticulous file to the DPP over two years ago after investigating the activities of the cartel, which is responsible for 16 of the 18 murders in the Kinahan Hutch feud.
Officers believe Kinahan directed the gang’s murderous campaign on the streets of Dublin between 2016 and 2018.
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