Kinahan Cartel: Human rights group warns of risks in Dubai-Ireland extradition deal

The Detained in Dubai campaign said any extradition deal would need to be “carefully drafted” to ensure it “does not result in unlawful deportations based on wholly unlawful allegations against Irish citizens or others living under Irish jurisdiction”.

This follows calls for Ireland to sign a bilateral extradition agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after senior gardaí visited the desert kingdom last week to seek the deportation of senior members of the Kinahan cartel.

Barry Andrews, Fianna Fáil MEP for Dublin, said Ireland should follow Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands and reach an agreement with the Gulf state to end Dubai’s status as a “safe haven for many of Ireland’s most wanted criminals”.

But Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said: “The human rights record in the UAE is poor and there have been numerous reports of torture, arbitrary detention and unfair trials.”

“The country’s legal system is opaque and there are serious concerns about the lack of due process and the use of confessions obtained through torture. There were also reports of political vendettas and the use of extradition as a tool to silence critics.”

She added: “Ireland must consider the potential impact of an extradition treaty with the UAE as a country that respects human rights and the rule of law.” It is worth noting that the UK opposes extradition to the UAE due to serious human rights violations in that country .

“While the Republic of Ireland views an extradition treaty as a tool to prosecute criminals in the UAE, officials must be mindful of the fact that such a treaty entails validation of the UAE’s criminal justice system as it is expected the contract would necessarily have to be based on reciprocity.

“This is inherently problematic as the UAE classifies matters as criminal offenses that neither Ireland, the EU nor any other jurisdiction considers as such.

“Furthermore, Ireland would potentially agree to the extradition of suspects wanted by the Emirates who were charged through a dramatically flawed investigation process with evidentiary standards well below international standards.”

Ms Stirling said any extradition agreement with the United Arab Emirates “must contain provisions that protect against this type of abuse”, including “protections against the death penalty, guarantees of fair trials and the right to legal representation, no extraditions based on absentee convictions, etc .” soon”.

Last week we reported how Garda Commissioner Drew Harris traveled to the UAE city with Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly to organize how Kinahan cartel leaders could be flown back to Ireland.

The Dubai government later released a picture of the Garda chief sitting with Dubai’s Commander-in-Chief of Police, Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, after a “successful” visit to the Dubai Police Officers’ Club.

The high-level meeting concluded the Garda chief’s visit to the UAE, with both police forces pledging to strengthen cooperation “in combating money laundering, transnational crime and cybercrime and to facilitate the exchange of expertise in various areas”.

The extradition of gang member Sean McGovern from his desert hideout in Dubai is being seen as a “test case” ahead of moves by the Irish state to bring home the leadership of the Kinahan cartel.

There remains an arrest warrant for Daniel Kinahan’s right-hand man in connection with a Hutch/Kinahan murder feud

Gardaí suspect he was involved in organizing a number of other feud murders, including that of Noel “Duck Egg” Kirwan, 62, who was shot six times as he sat in his car on St Ronan’s Drive in Clondalkin on December 22, 2016 . Dublin 22.

Gardaí also want to charge Mr McGovern with gang-related offenses relating to the attempted murder of Hutch employee James “Mago” Gately.

Originally from Crumlin, McGovern, who was once a key part of the Byrne Organized Crime Group and led the Kinahan’s Irish operation for years, moved to the Emirates full-time after Kirwan’s murder in December 2016.

During the US sanctions, he was wanted for murder and for directing and participating in an organized criminal group. Gardaí said on April 12 this year that the High Court had issued a European Arrest Warrant for him.

However, McGovern has yet to be arrested by police.

McGovern, who became very close to Daniel after the attack at the Regency Hotel and was injured in the shootout, later became Kinahan’s oldest and most trusted pal.

His girlfriend Anita Freeman and his children moved to the Emirates after he fled Ireland following the Kirwan murder.

McGovern assisted Kinahan with his business ventures while in the United Arab Emirates.

In July last year, a man described as a “trusted supporter” of the Kinahan cartel was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for his role in the murder of Kirwan and the attempted murder of an associate of the rival Hutch gang.

Martin Aylmer was sentenced to ten years and four months in prison, the last two suspended, after he pleaded guilty to being involved in or contributing to the murder of innocent father-of-four Kirwan in 2016 have.

He had previously pleaded guilty to a similar offense in connection with the attempted murder of James “Mago” Gately.

Both men were targeted because the Kinahan cartel believed they were linked to people involved in the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Last month, in a file submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, gardaí recommended that Daniel Kinahan be charged with leading a murderous criminal organization.

The file will be examined by the Director of Prosecutions (DPP), who will decide whether there is enough evidence to bring formal charges against the cartel leader.

sundayworld.com understands the recommendations included are to charge Daniel Kinahan with leading an organized crime group. If convicted, the offense carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

In addition, the US Treasury Department continues to offer a bounty of $15 million (13.8 million euros) for information leading to the conviction and dismantling of Daniel Kinahan, his father Christy Sr. and his brother Christopher Jr lead a criminal gang.