Sean McGovern charged with murder and gangland offences after Dubai extradition
Mr McGovern, 39, spoke only once to confirm his identity during a 15-minute hearing at the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
'Yes,' he replied when he was asked if he was Sean McGovern.
Wearing a grey T-shirt, grey sweatpants, white socks and black sliders, Mr McGovern stood as the charges were read out to him.
He then sat back down in the dock without comment after the charges were put to him.
He is charged with the murder of Christoper, aka Noel, Kirwan at St Ronan's Drive in Clondalkin in west Dublin on December 22, 2016.
Mr Kirwan, 62, was shot dead in the driveway of his home. He was targeted by the Kinahan cartel after he was spotted with Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch at the funeral of his brother Eddie Hutch in Dublin in February 2016.
Mr McGovern, who appears to have shaved his head, is also charged with four gangland offences.
It is alleged that between October 20, 2016 and December 22, 2016, he directed the activities of the criminal gang that murdered Mr Kirwan. It is also alleged that between the same dates he facilitated the crime gang's murder of Mr Kirwan.
He faces a further two charges in relation to a murder attempt on James 'Maggo' Gately, 36, a leading figure in the Hutch organised crime gang.
It is alleged that between October 17, 2015 and April 6, 2017, he directed a criminal organisation in relation to the monitoring of the activity of Mr Gately.
It is further alleged that between the same dates, he facilitated a conspiracy to murder Mr Gately.
Earlier, Detective Sergeant Donal O'Daly of the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau told the three judges - Karen O'Connor, Elma Sheahan and Grainne Malone – that he arrested Mr McGovern at 6.38pm at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, south Dublin, the HQ of the Air Corps.
Mr McGovern had moments earlier landed there in an Air Corps Casa C295 plane that brought him from Dubai on Wednesday evening.
McGovern, alleged to be the right-hand man of mob boss Daniel Kinahan, 48, had been in custody in the desert city since October last year. His extradition followed a request by Irish authorities.
Detective Sergeant O'Daly said he charged McGovern with all five offences in the precincts of Criminal Courts of Justice complex, where the Special Criminal Court is based, at 7.27pm.
He also said he handed Mr McGovern a true copy of the charges and that he read over the charges to him in ordinary language.
McGovern had arrived at the CCJ at 7.11pm – under tight Garda security. He entered the court at 7.40pm, 13 minutes after he was charged.
The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed the case be heard at the Special Criminal Court, which has no jury.
Defence barrister Olan Callanan BL told the court that he was reserving his position on the lawfulness of the arrest of Mr McGovern and the jurisdiction of the Special Criminal Court.
There was no bail application.
Mr Callanan requested that the case be remanded to June 5, via video link from Portlaoise Prison. McGovern was then remanded in custody to Portlaoise Prison to June 5.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
6 minutes ago
- The Journal
Irish business ties to Haiti could be key to securing release of kidnapped missionary Gena Heraty
AS IRISH DIPLOMATS work to find a way to free aid worker Gena Heraty in Haiti, the Caribbean country remains in the grip of a gang war. Significant Irish business connections in Haiti may be the key to securing the Irish missionary's release, sources have told The Journal. There are extensive Irish interests in the region. There is also a significant presence of Irish security personnel who are working for commercial enterprises. Some of those working in the area are former members of the Irish Defence Forces and others have worked for other State agencies – they are joined by other international colleagues working in security operations. A security source said that these ties may provide the answer to resolving the kidnapping such is the extent of their presence in the area. The Journal has reported extensively on the horror in Port au Prince and across the Caribbean state. One security source in the Caribbean and Latin America region said there has been a large increase in kidnappings as it is seen as an easy earner for the gang members who are now believed to control 90% of Port au Prince and its surrounds. Irish diplomacy has a small footprint in the region and their diplomatic efforts are largely handled through the United Nations in New York. There is no Irish consulate in Port au Prince. It is understood that an Emergency Consular Assistance Team (ECAT) has not been stood up by the Department of Foreign Affairs. ECAT teams – generally made up of experienced diplomats and Defence Forces members such as the Army Ranger Wing – are sometimes sent in to trouble spots to provide emergency evacuations of Irish citizens, and can also be deployed in hostage situations. Instead the Department of Foreign Affairs is anticipated to use the Irish connections with a strong base in the area to make contact with the gangs and to find a way to free Gena Heraty. Societal collapse Port au Prince is the size of Dublin with 1.2 million people living there and most are in desperate need of humanitarian help. There has been a collapse in Haitian society in recent years as gangs seek to take over the impoverished island nation. Reports from Haiti have said that there is widespread violence which includes systematic sexual violence against, children and adult women and men. A Kenyan deployment last year of hundreds of police officers to Haiti in a US-funded and UN-backed mission to help local law enforcement secure the country has struggled to make progress. A file image of children with their faces covered marching alongside gang boss 'Barbecue' in Port-au- Prince, Haiti. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'Barbecue' and Viv Ansanm There are multiple gangs but the largest, Viv Ansanm, came about through an alliance between the two main factions operating in Port-au-Prince, G-9 and G-Pèp. Advertisement Last month the UN Security Council was told by Ghada Fathi Waly , Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), that 90% of Port au Prince was in control of the gangs. 'As gang control expands, the state's capacity to govern is rapidly shrinking, with social, economic and security implications. This erosion of state legitimacy has cascading effects,' Waly told the UN. The key issue is that these gangs control major trade routes and are able to turn off the supply of food and other humanitarian supplies. Kidnapping Gena Heraty was abducted along with seven others, including a three-year-old child, from the Sainte-Hélène orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti, over the weekend. The incident saw gang leaders in the early hours of the morning breaking down a wall into her compound and seizing her and her colleagues. It not her first time being the victim of conflict in the area and Gena previously was injured in an attack. Kenscoff is located 10 kilometres to the south of the capital Port au Prince – this area of the country is controlled by Viv Ansanm. While there has been no official confirmation, multiple security sources in Haiti told The Journal that they believe it is Viv Ansanm that has taken Gena Heraty. The gang is run by a notorious Haitian war lord and former police officer Jimmy Chérizier – ominously known as 'Barbeque'. His goal is to take over the country and run it as his own state. Viv Ansanm has rifles and heavy weaponry supplied by Florida based weapons dealers – this has been confirmed by the markings on seized firearms. Jimmy Cherizier, aka Barbecue with masked gunmen in Port au Prince. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Looting of aid convoys The United Nations has said that the gang members, some of whom are armed children, have been participating in looting of aid convoys, hospitals and pharmacies. They have also been fighting pitched battles with Government and Kenyan forces – taking over largescale infrastructure such as the port and roads to the airport. The most horrific attacks have been perpetrated on the Haitian population, with mass killings against locals common as gangs move through communities. News agency AFP said the kidnapped Irishwoman, originally from Co Mayo, made connection by phone with her French based charity at the Sainte-Helene orphanage after being abducted. The facility is operated by humanitarian organisation Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (Our Little Brothers and Sisters). That charity is headquartered in the eastern suburbs of the French capital Paris. Security sources said that this may lead to military involvement from French military special forces but noted that a mission would not be without significant risk both for the commandos carrying out the rescue and the hostages. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
15 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Luxembourg axe star man Gerson Rodrigues after controversial appearance at home to Ireland
Their manager Luc Holtz had already paid the price for his role in the episode by being denied a contract extension. Ireland's friendly in Luxembourg in June was marked by protests from home supporters at the presence of Rodrigues in the side, their second home friendly of that June window. He had been convicted of a domestic abuse charge and was given an 18-month suspended sentence but politicians and women's rights groups there protested at the fact he was being selected. Irish fans in the stadium joined in the protests, with travelling supporters from Ireland displaying the red card and booing any time Rodrigues touched the ball. Long-serving coach Holtz had defended, before the game and in the aftermath, his call to select the player saying there was no legal block on his selection. Last month the Luxembourg FA decided, after a 'thorough analysis' of the matter, not to extend Holtz's contract when his current deal runs out in December, though they plan for him to be in charge for World Cup qualifiers, including a date with Northern Ireland. The FLF also apologised to a local journalist who had been barred from attending a press conference over his coverage of the affair. And now they have stated that Rodrigues – who has since moved to a club in Thailand – will not be selected for national team duty. They begin their World Cup campaign at home to Northern Ireland next month. 'The image of the Luxembourg football institution and all its members has been affected by the 'Gerson Rodrigues affair'. We would like to point out that the reputation of the Federation and its members is above any individuality and sporting considerations,' the FLF said. 'Despite the advice and recommendations that the Federation officials tried to give to the player concerned, he did not respond favourably. 'Consequently, the board of directors has decided that the aforementioned player is no longer eligible for selection until further notice for future international matches of the national team.'
Sunday World
27 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Violent thug involved in ‘RAT' branding attack is leader of Dublin crime mob
Devon Hennessy has operated as one of the leaders of a west Dublin mob involved in drug dealing, gang feuds, gun and firebomb attacks, and extreme violence in recent years Devon Hennessy has been warned of a threat to his life The thug who has pleaded guilty this week to falsely imprisoning and assaulting a man who was beaten and had the word 'RAT' branded on his body is a violent gangland figure with a lengthy involvement in serious crime. Devon Hennessy (29) of Edgewood Lawns, Corduff, Dublin, admitted at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting the victim as part of a joint enterprise aimed at 'enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence'. Devon has operated as one of the leaders of a west Dublin mob involved in drug dealing, gang feuds, gun and firebomb attacks, and extreme violence in recent years. He has survived several attempts on his life and his father Jason Hennessy Snr was shot dead as part of a feud in west Dublin on Christmas Eve, 2023. Last August, Devon survived an attempted assassination after a gunman opened fire on him while he was driving a bullet-proof BMW. Gardai later seized the vehicle, which was suspected to have been previously used by associates of the notorious Dundon crime gang. The shooting, however, was not the first time Devon had been targeted by gunmen. He has been involved in various gang wars throughout most of his adult life and was a key player in the Corduff feud which began at the end of 2018 following a dispute between two rival drugs. By the following year, there were multiple shooting incidents, assaults, stabbings, firebomb attacks and a machete attack at Finglas Garda Station linked to the feud. Devon, who was key player in the violence, survived a number of incidents when gunmen opened up on his home and vehicle around that time, including one incident where five shots were fired at a car he was travelling in in 2019. Gardai had given him an official Garda Information Message [GIM] informing him of a credible threat to his life. Devon Hennessy carrying his father Jason Snr's coffin after his murder Officers also regularly targeted Devon and his associates in stops and searches. He was stopped on numerous occasions in a BMW he claimed he won in a raffle. Members of the gang were regularly abusive to gardai who spoke to them. Officers in the area were constantly carrying out searches of land and property which led to seizures of drugs, weapons and ammunition believed to belong to the gang. Devon regularly appeared in court while the feud was ongoing and in 2020 he pleaded guilty to violent disorder after he admitted throwing a punch at a man as he was leaving a courthouse. Brazen Devon approached a rival outside Blanchardstown Court while gardai were present, punching him in the face 'without prior warning or provocation'. The garda witness said he was aware there were 'background issues' between Hennessy and this other man and he immediately intervened and tried to restrain Hennessy. The Corduff feud has seen vehicles fire bombed He said Hennessy resisted him and tried to go back to the other man shouting at him 'you are a dead man'. A number of other officers had to assist to continue to physically restrain Hennessy, while other associates of his tried to get involved in the situation. The feud continued as Devon and his gang regularly became involved in violent incidents and pushed drugs in west Dublin. The violence eventually caught up with the gang and Devon's father Jason Hennessy Snr was fatally injured while having a meal with associates in Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve in 2023. Tristan Sherry, pictured, died after his gun attack on Hennessy Snr The gunman, Tristan Sherry, was attacked by seven men and killed at the scene. Jason Hennessy Snr died in hospital 11 days after he was shot. Three men have been found guilty of murdering Sherry, three others have been convicted of violent disorder and another was jailed for removing a firearm from the scene. The feuding continued in the aftermath of the attack, including the attempt on Devon's life as well as another hit attempt linked to the feud which was foiled by gardai. The gang was also behind numerous firebomb attacks in the area, including on the homes of innocent people, as they continued to try to rule the locality through fear and violence. Jason Hennessy Snr Just weeks after the August 2024 gun attack, Hennessy was back before the courts after he was found guilty of having zopiclone tablets for sale or supply after he and an associate were caught with them in a car near Cloverhill Prison. The drugs were wrapped in four packets, each containing a mobile phone and weights, and gardai suspect they were hoping to get them into the prison. Devon would soon find himself inside that same jailhouse after his involvement in the assault and false imprisonment of Barry Moore at a house on Sheephill Avenue, Dublin, on February 12, 2025. His brothers Jason Hennessy Jr (28) and Brandon Hennessy (22) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; as well as 45-year-old Kenneth Fitzsimons and his son Dean Fitzsimons, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin, were also arrested in relation to the attack and are awaiting trial on the matter. Devon and the four other men went on hunger strike in Cloverhill Prison in March this year, telling staff they were unhappy with restrictions placed upon them while on remand in the high-security facility. However, the hunger strike lasted less than 24 hours The Hennessy's house 'They didn't last much longer than if they'd skipped their dinner,' a source told us at the time. 'They gave up as soon as the first pangs of hunger hit. 'When inmates go on hunger strike, there are food refusal protocols that kick in after 24 hours. 'They didn't make it long enough for those to kick in.' Hennessy was in court around that time after admitting to dangerously driving a scrambler bike in west Dublin. He drove at high speed along footpaths in the busy Blanchardstown area, causing pedestrians to jump out of his way, and across a green area where young children were playing. He was given a four month sentence, €500 fine and two year driving ban. He has been remanded in custody to October 7 this year for a sentencing date to be fixed. Devon Hennessy has been warned of a threat to his life News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, August 5th
