Top-tier Kinahan gangster Sean McGovern is not expected to fly into Ireland for his father’s funeral this week.
McGovern, who is wanted on the foot of a European Arrest Warrant, is in mourning after his “devoted Dad” Des died last Sunday. Sean McGovern, who is considered to be mob boss Daniel Kinahan’s right-hand-man, is believed to be hiding out in the United Arab Emirates - and is not expected to return to Ireland for the funeral this coming Thursday.
The gangster, who is originally from Crumlin, is wanted to face charges in relation to the gangland murder of innocent Dad Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan. Kirwan, 62, was brutally shot dead outside his home in Clondalkin, West Dublin in December 2016 - with the cartel murdering him after he was seen in a photo with Gerry Hutch at the funeral of his brother Eddie Hutch earlier that year.
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The murder was just one of 18 that occurred during the height of the bloody Kinahan-Hutch feud. McGovern’s innocent father Des, who is formerly from Drimagh, died peacefully “surrounded by his loving friends and family” at his home in Crumlin, according to a death notice posted on RIP.ie.
The notice said that he was a “loving and devoted dad” to his sons Greg and Sean and that he will be “forever loved and very sadly missed by his loving family, wife, sons, daughters in law,” and grandchildren. His son Sean was also shot during the Regency Hotel attack in Dublin in February 2016 - suffering a non-fatal gunshot wound.
Both Sean and his brother Greg McGovern refused to speak to gardai at the scene - with an officer recently telling the Special Criminal Court that Greg told him to “f*ck off” when they were approached. Sean McGovern, who was once a key member of gangster Liam Byrne’s organised crime group in Dublin - was recently named as being one of six of the major leaders of the Kinahan cartel.
McGovern was named as the US Department of Treasury announced unprecedented sanctions against the cartel. Gardai then stated in April 12 of this year that the High Court had issued a European Arrest Warrant for him. McGovern was named as being atop the inner circle of the Kinahan mob alongside Christy Kinahan Sr, his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr - and associates Johnny Morrisey, Bernard Clancy and Ian Dixon.
In a dramatic press conference it was revealed that all seven men had been hit with massive US sanctions by the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The Treasury department stated on record what has been reported now for many years - that Daniel Kinahan is the main man and that “each member of the gang reports” to him.
Specifically they revealed that Daniel Kinahan himself sent money to “a variety of individuals serving prison sentences,” including a person convicted of attempted murder on behalf of the cartel, and an individual imprisoned for murder on behalf of the mob. Those individuals are understood to be Estonian hitman Imre Arakas - jailed for an attempt to murder Hutch associate James ‘Mago’ Gately, and murderer ‘Fat’ Freddie Thompson - jailed for his role in the gangland murder of Daithi Douglas in 2016.
Kinahan also “sources large quantities of cocaine from South America,” US authorities say and he “plays an integral part in organising the supply of drugs in Ireland.” He is also “attempting” to facilitate the importation of cocaine into the UK, they said.
Sean McGovern, they said, is his “closest confidant” and advisor - and evidence indicates that any dealings with Kinahan go through McGovern first. US authorities said McGovern manages Kinahan’s communications to the gang - and he is involved in selling “multi-kilogram” quantities of cocaine.
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