WE’LL CRUSH KINAHAN
Senior garda pledges to bring cartel boss to justice
THE Kinahan cartel’s days are numbered as gardai yesterday pledged to “dismantle” the gang.
The vow came after a judge handed three men a total of 19 years for their role in the crime organisation’s plot to murder Patsy Hutch.
Specialist cops are targeting boss Daniel Kinahan who is based in Dubai.
Assistant Commissioner John O’driscoll said: “Ultimately, we believe, we can bring about the downfall of
those who are at the top of the pyramid. It is our aim to dismantle the entire crime group.
“We are confident that the evidence we have gained in investigations we are undertaking will result in the charging of other people.”
Assistant Commissioner O’driscoll said the crime gang, which is believed to be worth €1billion, had “wreaked havoc” on communities worst affected by poverty, disadvantage and addiction.
He would not comment on individual cases but said gardai stood by evidence given to the High Court which identified Kinahan as a senior figure in organised crime.
He confirmed officers had already sent representatives to several countries in the Middleeast as part of their investigations.
He said: “If we gather such evidence as to prefer criminal charges, clearly the hierarchy of people in these crime groups are being targeted.”
He added he is “satisfied” gardai have “sufficient evidence to ensure there will be other charges.
It was claimed just hours earlier that Daniel Kinahan would be stepping back from the world of boxing to “focus on other interests.”
The statement came from Bob Yalen, the president of MTK – a boxing management company which was co-founded by Daniel
Kinahan in 2012.
The blow to
Kinahan comes after it was announced the crime boss will play no Daniel Kinahan further role in a two-fight deal between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, who publicly thanked Kinahan for getting the deal done.
Asked yesterday about the Kinahan gang’s connection to sport, AC O’driscoll said: “Boxing was a very important sport and many of those involved have represented their country with distinction.
“Obviously amateur boxing is somewhat removed from the professional sport, which maybe has a murky history in some regards.
“We would encourage people in the inner city to rise above the damage that has been inflicted by these people and to continue to participate in that sport that is so important to them.
“And we hope to help those communities in trying to rid them of the drugs that are peddled by the Kinahan organised crime group.”
Earlier this month, a Bahrain sports company ended its involvement with Kinahan.
KHK, the company set up by the King of Bahrain’s son, said it had “discontinued its engagement with Kinahan and he is no longer an adviser” to the company.