Sean McGovern, a senior figure in the Kinahan Organised Crime Group, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in directing the murder of an innocent man and the attempted murder of a rival gang member during the violent Kinahan-Hutch feud.
The 40-year-old, formerly of Kildare Road in Crumlin, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court after being found guilty of directing criminal activities linked to the murder of Noel Kirwan and the attempted murder of James Gately between 2015 and 2017.
Mr Justice Patrick McGrath described McGovern as a trusted and influential member of the Kinahan organisation who played a central role in planning and overseeing serious offences on behalf of the gang. Although not at the very top of the criminal hierarchy, the court found he was a senior lieutenant who received instructions from higher-ranking members and passed orders down to others.
Noel Kirwan, a 62-year-old grandfather, was shot dead in the driveway of his Clondalkin home on 22 December 2016. The court heard that Kirwan was not involved in criminal activity and was targeted solely because of his association with the Hutch family. He had appeared in a photograph with Gerard Hutch at the funeral of Gerard’s brother, Eddie Hutch, who was also killed during the feud.
Evidence presented to the court showed McGovern controlled and monitored a tracking device placed on Kirwan’s vehicle. His fingerprints were discovered on instructions relating to the tracker and on the laptop used to operate it. The court found he adjusted the tracker’s settings and provided real-time updates on Kirwan’s movements to the gunmen waiting to carry out the attack.
The judge highlighted encrypted messages sent by McGovern under the alias “Knife,” including one suggesting that assigning a particular hitman to kill Kirwan, described as a “soft target,” would help restore the gunman’s confidence.
McGovern was also convicted for directing the attempted murder of James Gately, a member of the rival Hutch gang. The court heard that Gately’s partner and sister were placed under surveillance using tracking devices attached to their vehicles. McGovern coordinated the operation through encrypted PGP phones, issuing instructions and sharing intelligence with other Kinahan members.
The murder plot ultimately failed due to Garda intervention, which led to the arrest of Estonian hitman Imre Arakas before the attack could be carried out. The judge noted that Gately survived because of law enforcement action, not because of any decision by McGovern.
During the proceedings, the court also heard evidence of McGovern’s commitment to the feud following the murder of Kinahan associate David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. In one message, McGovern declared the conflict was “personal” and vowed on his “baby’s life” that he would not stop pursuing revenge.
Mr Justice McGrath imposed a 10-year sentence for McGovern’s role in the attempted murder of Gately and a further 14 years for his involvement in the murder of Noel Kirwan. The sentences will run consecutively, bringing the total prison term to 24 years.
