Daniel Kinahan answers to Dublin court after extradition from Dubai

Daniel Kinahan is back on Irish soil.

The former boxing manager/promoter and head of the now defunct boxing company management firm MTK Global has been extradited from Dubai to Dublin where he is to face charges of directing a criminal organization between 2015 and 2017 in relation to being the alleged head of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group.

Along with father, Christy Snr, and brother, Christopher, US authorities had offered a reward of $5m for help in bringing any of the family members to justice.

Kinahan was served a warrant and appeared in court last night.

The 49-year-old appeared before three judges at the Special Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin.

The charge Kinahan faces – of violating section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 – carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Kinahan was arrested on the tarmac at 6.49pm at the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel shortly after arriving from Dubai on an Irish government jet.

Kinahan told the court he had not had time to arrange legal representation and the case was put back to October 5.

He was asked whether he wanted to appear in person or via video link, and queried if he needed to make an immediate decision. He was informed that he did not have to and was then told that, if he wished to make a bail application, it would have to be done through the High Court.

“I understand,” Kinahan said. “I think we know I won’t be getting bail but thank you for explaining.”

Kinahan has been locked up in Dubai since April as he attempted to appeal his extradition. 

For several years, he had become a significant player in boxing, working with the top promoters and signing stars to his stable, including Tyson Fury, Billy Joe Saunders and Michael Conlan.