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Net closing amid new hope Daniel Kinahan will face charges over Eddie Hutch murder after ‘no stone unturned’ probe
Kinahan is suspected of directing the activities of his gang as they embarked on a killing spree
A FORMER senior Garda has told of his hopes that mob boss Daniel Kinahan will soon face charges over the murder of Eddie Hutch.
Retired Supt Martin Mooney - based at Mountjoy station before his retirement last year - also hopes other senior members of the Kinahan cartel will be prosecuted over the murder of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch’s older brother.
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Speaking for the first time about the probe, Mr Mooney paid tribute to the investigation team from the Gardai’s North Central Division who have spent the last eight years investigating the fourth murder of the Kinahan and Hutch feud.
He made the claims after it emerged this week that a file on the case had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardai also confirmed that three “persons of interest” in the case had left .
They are believed to be Daniel Kinahan, a former childhood friend of murder victim Gary Hutch and an associate of murdered gangster Marlo Hyland.
Mr Mooney said: “This is a very complex investigation that has spanned many countries and no stone has been left unturned by the team.
“My hope at the end of this process would be to see Daniel Kinahan and other significant figures within his criminal investigation brought before the Special Criminal .
“The work that went into this investigation was well underway by the time I arrived in 2020 and every effort has been made to bring charges in this case.
“Investigators from the North Central Division have already shown how resilient they have been in securing convictions in feud related murders, despite the passage of time.
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“This was a heinous crime and hopefully the DPP will be satisfied with the standard of investigation that will ultimately see charges.”
Gardai do not believe that Daniel Kinahan was the gunman in the murder on February 8, 2016.
Heartbroken mum says she'll never forgive Kinahan Cartel for bringing drugs into Ireland that took her son's life
Instead, they suspect he was directing the activities of his gang as they embarked on a killing spree after the killing of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016.
We also understand that this investigation will also be considered at the same time as a file on Kinahan from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau is also being examined by the DPP.
The GNDOCB file relates to Kinahan’s alleged involvement in a plot to kill James ‘Mago’ Gately in April 2017 and also another man in November 2017.
At present, Kinahan remains in as the global investigation into his criminal network continues.
In exile
It’s understood a decision to charge him over the Eddie Hutch murder could be made before the end of the year.
He also remains in the UAE with his close associate Sean McGovern, who’s wanted over the murder of Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan in 2016.
Negotiations are currently underway between the Department of Justice and their UAE counterparts.
McGovern has been the subject of a European Arrest Warrant for the last two years but continues to live in Dubai.
It’s understood Gardai believe if McGovern is extradited, it could pave the way for Kinahan’s extradition if he is charged.
Extradition hopes
We revealed in December how Justice Minister was hoping to secure an agreement with the UAE over McGovern’s extradition.
One source said: “The hope is that if McGovern is sent back to Ireland then it could lead to similar arrangements for others, including Daniel Kinahan, should they be charged.
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During an inquest hearing at Dublin Coroner’s Court on Monday, Det Insp Aidan Flanagan told the court that Gardai had undertaken 1,300 investigative tasks and taken 500 statements.
Investigators had also collected 200 exhibits and watched thousands of hours of CCTV.
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