Here is suspected Kinahan “enforcer” Johnny Morrissey bragging about his shooting skills in a series of videos made before his sensational arrest.
Footage seen by the Irish Mirror shows the 62-year-old alleged mobster showing off for the camera with a series of handguns and an assault rifle. The footage was filmed some time before he was arrested by Spanish cops in a daring operation last week.
In the videos the man, described by the US Treasury Department as one of the seven main mobsters in the Kinahan cartel, tries to make himself look like a great gunman. He fires off several rounds at his Spanish-based shooting range and brags about his knowledge.
Read more: 'Key member' of Kinahan cartel arrested in Spain after being named by US authorities
The alleged gangster boasts as he holds up bullets to the camera: “That’s with your Winchester magnum. Look at the size of them.”
Later in one of the videos he shows off a Glock, which he pulls from the front of his trousers to show how to “conceal” it. He says: “This is a concealed Glock. That’s your conceal for close quarters.”
The gangster, who Spanish police say laundered a massive €350,000 a day for the cartel, boasts that he fired off several rounds in just over a minute. He claims: “All them weapons, the whole lot taking it easy that was just over one minute.”
Further unearthed footage of the thug, who sources say believed himself to be “untouchable” – give a rare insight into his life of luxury and lavish tastes. The gang boss and Irish passport holder, whose Malaga-based mansion was adorned with sculptures, is seen in a video speaking with well known sculptor Jonathan Wylder last year.
In the lengthy footage, a well-dressed Morrissey, who thought of himself like a Roman Emperor, heaps praise on Wylder, who is well known for his sculpture of Mother Theresa. And the daft criminal, dubbed Johnny Cash, even asks the sculptor to make a bust of him – to add to his collection of statues that surround his multi-million euro mansion.
But the vain mobster admits that he didn’t like a sketch drawn of him earlier on – as he feels he looks too fat. Morrissey moans to Mr Wylder: “In the photo my face is always fatter and I’m trying to lose some weight and when you do a sketch it’s like my face is this big”
Read more: Kinahan cartel flew millions of cocaine into Ireland on private plane
Mr Wylder, who has no connection to crime, then suggests making a Roman-like bust of Morrissey – and praises him as a ”big” and “strong” man. He says: “Honestly you’re big and strong. Let’s do something with your strong face, bring in some jawline but you’ve got these massive big shoulders, just pump them up a bit.
“A bust with a big chest…and do it like the Roman sculptures. The gangster responds: “Yeah that would be nice and it would be nice for the children.”
The videos show how Morrissey liked to flaunt his wealth and his “talent” as a marksman as he lived a carefree and lavish lifestyle on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Never-before-seen pictures also show Morrissey’s champagne lifestyle as he hangs out with pals in a limousine, and parties across Spain and his native Scotland. Pictures also reveal Morrissey’s flashy wedding at a five-star castle near Edinburgh.
Morrissey, seen wearing a kilt, stands next to wife Nicola, who was also arrested last week – as they lived it up on their special day in Dundas Castle in 2016.
But last week their empire came crumbling down when Spanish cops accompanied by a Garda officer, arrested the couple at their is bolthole in Malaga. A total of 11 properties were raided as part of an investigation – which also involved gardai and the UK’s National Crime Agency.
The US Treasury Department dubbed Morrissey as an “enforcer” for the ruthless Kinahan cartel which it announced major sanctions against in April of this year. The US named Morrissey along with mob bosses Christy Kinahan Sr and his two sons Daniel and Christy Jr – and offered up a $5million reward for any information that would lead to the hierarchy’s arrests.
Following those sanctions authorities in the United Arab Emirates, where the Kinahans call home, formally announced sanctions of their own.
Bank accounts associated with the Kinahans were frozen – as were other assets – in a major action that has crippled the cartel. In recent months sources say the father and sons have fled the UAE and are believed to be moving between various countries while the heat remains on them.
In the meantime the arrest of Morrissey is believed to have dealt yet another blow to the already wounded cartel – and has likely set their European operations back even further.
The mobster was believed to have been one of the Kinahan’s main men in Europe and a vital cog in the wheel of their operations. Officers say he assisted the cartel by laundering more than €200million in the past 18 months alone.
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