Garda commissioner Drew Harris has warned 'very prominent sporting individuals' to cut all ties with Daniel Kinahan following the US Government's sanctions on him and other high-profile members of the Kinahan cartel.
Daniel Kinahan as well as his brother Christy Jr and father Christy were among seven individuals sanctioned by American authorities.
The measure means that all property and interests in property of the mentioned Kinahan members that are in the US or in the possession or control of US persons "must be blocked and reported to OFAC" (Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control).
In addition, a reward of up to $5 million has been issued in exchange for information that leads to the "financial disruption" of the gang or the arrest and conviction of the aforementioned trio.
Daniel Kinahan has for years now been deeply associated with boxing both in Ireland as well as in a global context as he has been hailed by big-name promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum.
Similarly, world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been photographed with him on multiple occasions with the British fighter even crediting him with getting his proposed super-fight with Anthony Joshua 'over the line' in one 2020 video.
Kinahan also co-founded boxing promotion MGM, now known as MTK, in 2012.
The company claims that Kinahan stepped away in 2017 and has not been involved since.
It has boasted some of the biggest names in Irish boxing amongst its stable including Michael Conlan, Carl Frampton and Paddy Barnes.
Now, this afternoon the Garda Commissioner has urged those in the sport still aligned with Kinahan to sever all ties with him.
He said: "What was implicit is now absolutely explicit: If you deal with the individuals who are sanctioned then you are then involved with a criminal network.
"I would ask them to look to their own business, the probity of their own business and then their relationship with their fans.
"Really, is this something that they want to be involved with, in terms of their legitimate business? I would think that the answer to that is a resounding no.
"In terms of very prominent sporting individuals who are obviously in some way connected with this group, I would say that you need to look at your sport, your fans, and you need to think of your own reputation because this is a very serious announcement made today after a huge amount of work.
"It will withstand scrutiny and what we are saying is based very solidly on the evidence and information that very many law enforcement agencies have gleaned, and have provided, in effect, to an independent office for what is a presidential direction."
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