
Sean McGovern's lawyers question legality of his extradition
Olan Callanan BL, for McGovern, today told the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court that Michael Staines solicitors office will issue a letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) imminently, putting them on notice of an application.
Mr Callanan asked the court to set a date for a hearing. He added: "The fundamental concern is the legality, the propriety and the process which surrounded his arrival in Dublin."
On 29 May 29 last, when Mr McGovern arrived in Dublin and was first brought before the court, Mr Callanan said he was reserving his position on the legality of the process and the jurisdiction of the non-jury court.
Sean Gillane SC, for the DPP, told the court that a first book of evidence relating to the charges against McGovern will be ready by the end of July. The DPP will update the court on a second book of evidence at a later date.
Mr McGovern viewed today's proceedings via video-link from prison. He spoke only to confirm that he could hear what was being said.
Ms Justice Karen O'Connor agreed to set a date for hearing McGovern's application on Wednesday, 18 June. McGovern will again appear by video-link rather than in person.
The court set a date in late July for service of the book of evidence.
An Irish Air Corps Casa 295 plane took McGovern from Dubai to Dublin last week, stopping off in Larnaca in Cyprus and Marseille in France to refuel.
He landed at Casement Aerodrome in west Dublin, before gardai brought him before the Special Criminal Court where he was charged with five offences.
Mr McGovern, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12 is charged with the murder of Noel Kirwan on 22 December, 2016 at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin in Dublin.
He is also charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the same murder between 20 October, 2016 and 22 December, 2016.
He is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in connection with the surveillance of James Gately in preparation for the commission of an indictable offence between 17 October, 2015 and 6 April, 2017.
Another charge alleges that between 20 October and 22 December, 2016 he contributed to or participated in activity intending or being reckless as to whether such activity would facilitate a criminal organisation in the murder of Mr Kirwan.
He faces a similar charge of facilitating a criminal organisation in a conspiracy to murder James Gately.

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Sunday World
3 hours ago
- Sunday World
Dublin man to appeal life sentence over gangland ‘execution' of Daithi Douglas
Lee Canavan (36) was jailed for life by Special Criminal Court on June 3, 2021 but what has been described as a "carefully planned assassination". A Dublin man jailed for life for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas who was 'executed' at a city centre shoe shop in Dublin nine years ago, has appealed his conviction arguing the court was wrong to find that a 'general association' with others linked to the crime was indicative of guilt. Mr Douglas (55) was shot six times in broad daylight as he took a meal break at the counter in his partner's shop, Shoestown in Dublin's Liberties. The semi-automatic pistol used in the murder had its serial number removed and was "brazenly" left at the scene next to the deceased's head, the court heard. Lee Canavan (36) was jailed for life by Special Criminal Court on June 3, 2021. Canavan was the fourth man to be jailed in relation to the murder and his conviction was described by gardaí as "significant". 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Delivering judgement, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath said that four different vehicles had been used in the murder in a "carefully planned assassination". A Mercedes car used in the killing was found burned out near the shooting and a stolen Suzuki Swift was then used to ferry those in the Mercedes away from the burn site. Canavan, with an address at Edenbrook, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Douglas, who died after sustaining injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow and jaw at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Launching an Appeal against his conviction today, Canavan's senior counsel Michael Bowman argued the court had made an error by convicting Canavan of murder in circumstances where the prosecution opened the case on the basis that his client was the individual who 'literally pulled the trigger'. He also submitted the three-judge court was wrong to find that a general association with others was indicative of guilt. Mr Bowman said Canavan was 'habitually' seen with Freddie Thompson and Gareth Brophy, who was his half-brother. David 'Daithi' Douglas News in 90 Seconds - July 25th 'There is nothing unusual about that. His presence in their company is not of tremendous relevance,' counsel said. He went on to say that Canavan had been stopped 22 times in cars he was not entitled to drive and on 11 of those occasions he had been in the company of Freddie Thompson. 'The presence or absence of him in the company of these people in the vehicles is not extraordinary,' said Mr Bowman. Mr Bowman said the court ultimately took the view that there was enough to convict on the basis of joint enterprise/common design. However, the barrister said there was 'no reference' during the prosecution's opening to joint enterprise/common design. 'The prosecution is very clear, the combination of these events and the inference to be drawn is not common design - it communicates direct involvement,' said Mr Bowman. 'He is literally the person who pulls the trigger, that is the prosecution's opening gambit.' He said the court was given 'an exposition' on joint enterprise and common design at the closing of the case, adding 'but that is a little late in my submission'. Fat Freddie Thompson He said there was 'a very significant difference' between making a determination that the defendant had an involvement in criminality and convicting him of murder. Mr Bowman said there was insufficient evidence of joint enterprise to convict of murder and the case was defended on the basis that the prosecution's case was that Canavan was the shooter. 'It stripped from the prosecution the primary evidence,' he said, adding this created 'an unfairness' and the residual evidence was still not enough to prove 'a tacit agreement to kill'. Mr Bowman also argued the court was wrong not to accede to a defence application for a direction of no case to answer. 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Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man jailed for role in murder of David Douglas in Dublin shoe shop appeals conviction
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He said these vehicles then became 'live' later in the afternoon – one as 'the murder vehicle' and the other as the 'getaway' car – for the team involved in the killing. Mr McGillicuddy said the court found Canavan was 'an integral part' of that team on the basis of joint enterprise. He said the court found Canavan was 'centrally involved' in the placement of vehicles in areas not covered by CCTV and fed the meters to ensure they would be available later on. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the court would reserve judgment. A father of one, Canavan was concurrently jailed for five years for the criminal damage to the getaway vehicle, a stolen Suzuki Swift, in Sandymount three days after the shooting. After the guilty verdict was delivered in May 2021, Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary told media outside of court that Canavan's conviction was 'very significant' and that gardaí had now convictions for the 'whole murder cell'.


Sunday World
7 hours ago
- Sunday World
Face of taxi driver caught with child sex abuse video as he's jailed
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