Several boxing figures won’t be allowed fly to the United States over their connections with mob boss Daniel Kinahan as authorities there ban 600 people from entry.
The US is barring anyone who had any relationship with Kinahan, which includes legitimate dealings in the sport.
Last night sources revealed the lengthy list of names of those being refused entry will continue to grow.
And the Irish Mirror has learned those on it are only becoming aware of the fact when they attempt to board a flight bound for the US.
It has already happened to his one-time “best friend” and former pro puncher Matthew Macklin, who was turned away at a London airport last month as he tried to travel to Las Vegas to work for UK broadcaster Sky Sports.
Macklin, who has no involvement in crime, founded the boxing management firm MGM which later became MTK with Kinahan, although they both claim they stepped away in 2017.
The company folded last month because promoters in the sport refused to do any business with them because of their connections with Kinahan,44, following the announcement of US sanctions against the drug baron, his father Christy “Dapper Don” snr,65, and his brother Christy Jnr,41.
Until authorities from the US, UK and Ireland publicly declared war on the cartel in early April, Kinahan remained a key figure at the top tier of professional boxing, advising a number of fighters.
A source said: “The list is only getting longer. These individuals are not being told they’re on it, but rather finding out at airports when they attempt to travel to the US.
“There are obviously people in the world of boxing who either defended Kinahan, worked with him in the sport or had a friendship with him through the sport that are now getting hit with the consequences.”
The highest profile relationship he had was with heavyweight superstar Tyson Fury, who was advised by Kinahan for a number of years, and they regularly appeared in photos with each other. Tyson has since moved to distance himself from Kinahan.
Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Driscoll was briefed on the issue in Washington over the weekend as he met with US Customs and Border Protection.
He confirmed that those connected with Kinahan through boxing are being hit.
The senior officer said: “What has been displayed as a consequence of the sanctioning is the connection between the Kinahan organised crime group and, for example, sport - and businesses associated with boxing in particular. And its connections with the US are a particular focus of the US authorities.”
O’Driscoll also insisted that it’s not just those who associated with Kinahan through sport that are being targeted.
He said: “Of course, we’ve seen the wide range of other companies associated with those that are sanctioned. And anyone who has any part to play in any of those companies will be prevented from entering the US.”
He also revealed that those on the list will be prevented from entering other jurisdictions outside of the US.
Speaking from Washington O’Driscoll said: “We’re satisfied that the people concerned who are involved in criminality associated with that organized crime group will be denied entry into other jurisdictions, if they were to try and gain entry.”
The top cop also met with the Drugs Enforcement Agency as they set up an information sharing system arising from details they get from the $5million bounty on the Kinahan cartel leaders to take them down and prosecute them.
He told RTE News: “We’re satisfied following our meetings here in Washington that there has been considerable interest in that reward scheme to the extent that it requires some logistics around the sharing of the information and evaluating each piece of it.
“The amount is significant. It ranges in quality, but certainly does offer the prospect of additional actions being taken by law enforcement across the globe.”
He added that he believes there will be “additional actions in relation to criminal prosecution, both in Ireland and maybe further afield relating to those who are at the apex of the Kinahan organised crime group.”
O’Driscoll believes the coordinated targeting of the cartel is “is now described as a potential template for taking on other organised crime groups that have a transnational aspect to them.
“That is spoken about both here in Washington and in the Hague in terms of Europe’s interest in how we went about our business in this particular project.”
O’Driscoll and the head of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Detective Chief Supt Seamus Boland visited the Drug Enforcement Agency’s special operations division, the Customs and Border Protection agencies National Targeting Centre and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control last week.
Read more: Criminal Assets Bureau to name and shame criminals under proposed new powers
Read more: 'Murdering hulk' Mark Whelan dead after falling ill in Mountjoy Prison showers
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
