A decade after a shocking attack at a Dublin hotel ignited Ireland's most notorious gang war, the international net is tightening around its prime target: alleged crime boss Daniel Kinahan, now holed up in Dubai.
The Attack That Sparked a War
On February 5, 2016, a scene of surreal violence unfolded at the Regency Hotel in Dublin. A man in a dress and wig, accompanied by an accomplice in a flat cap, walked arm-in-arm into a crowded boxing weigh-in before opening fire. Outside, three co-conspirators disguised as armed police waited. The brazen assault, carried out in front of media members, left Kinahan cartel member David Byrne dead, shot six times. Two others were injured before the five-strong gang escaped.
The intended target, Daniel Kinahan, evaded capture that day. However, the attack, blamed on the rival Hutch gang, escalated a feud that has claimed at least 18 lives. It marked a pivotal moment, demonstrating the audacity of Ireland's organised crime groups and forcing a relentless state response.
A Billion-Euro Empire from Dubai
From low-level Dublin beginnings, Daniel Kinahan and his father, Christy 'The Dapper Don', built an international empire. Irish police estimate its value at around €1 billion (£835m), built on drug trafficking, money laundering, and violence. The US government has linked its operations to Hezbollah and placed a $5 million bounty on Christy and his sons.
Despite the bounty, the Kinahans have maintained a lavish lifestyle in Dubai, frequenting Michelin-starred restaurants. Daniel's extravagant wedding at the Burj Al Arab hotel was attended by figures including boxer Tyson Fury, highlighting the gang's foray into boxing promotion. His strategic mind earned him the nickname 'Chess' and a position as a key figure in a so-called 'super cartel'.
The International Net Begins to Close
For years, Dubai's perceived laxity towards illicit finance offered a sanctuary. Yet, as the Regency anniversary nears, signs suggest the Kinahans' freedom is shrinking. Extradition treaties, including one with Ireland, are now in effect. Alleged lieutenant Sean McGovern, wounded in the 2016 shooting, was arrested in his Dubai apartment and flown to Dublin to face murder charges.
John Collins of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime told Metro that the state's response to the Regency shooting was aggressive and sustained. "Ireland has had a very significant number of intelligence-led policing efforts," he said, noting a foreign policy push to deny safe havens. "The net has been consistently tightening."
Garda meetings with UAE counterparts are ongoing, with a focus on pursuing "the decision-makers." Files allege Daniel Kinahan directed the organisation and was responsible for the murder of Eddie Hutch, the first retaliation killing after the hotel attack.
Flying Too Close to the Sun
Experts believe the gang's notoriety is now a double-edged sword. Professor Anna Sergi of the University of Bologna states that under the "strongest scrutiny ever," the group's survival depends on fragmenting its activities and leadership. The very 'brand' that built their reputation now brings unbearable exposure.
Collins suggests their days of overt luxury are over. "Their freedom of movement is severely limited and they are at tremendous risk of being captured," he said. The publicity stunts, like Daniel Kinahan's 2022 appearance with Fury, have ceased. While connections in countries like Zimbabwe or Iran could offer an exit, the momentum is firmly against the cartel's leadership.
A lawyer for the Kinahans has previously told the BBC that theories about them remain untested in court, citing a dismissed multi-country investigation. However, with sustained diplomatic pressure from Ireland, the US, and Europe, the once-untouchable image of the Kinahan empire is cracking. The decade-long hunt triggered by a bloody day at the Regency is reaching a critical phase.
