Alleged crime gang leader Daniel Kinahan appears before court in Dublin

The 49-year-old is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 18 2015 and April 6 2017.

Wearing glasses and a dark jumper, Mr Kinahan said he could hear and see the court.

A defence barrister told the court that solicitor Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law in Belfast wanted to come on record as the legal representative for Mr Kinahan.

Mr Mackin did not attend the court because of unexpected circumstances.

Garda vehicles leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

PA Wire

Mr Mackin was in the Court of Appeal in Belfast representing the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition in their challenge against a decision to legally permit the Orange Order to march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

Mr Kinahan, alleged to be a leader of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested in the United Arab Emirates on April 15 on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts.

This was carried out in accordance with a bilateral agreement on extradition between Ireland and the UAE.

He had been flown to Ireland on an Irish Government jet in August, and was taken by high-speed Garda escort to court in Dublin where he was charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation.

He appeared before the Special Criminal Court on Monday by videolink from Portlaoise Prison in a hearing that lasted a few minutes.

Presiding over the hearing were Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and Judge Kevin Staunton.

Mr Kinahan was asked to confirm his identity and when asked if he could hear and see the court, he replied: “Yes, I can.”

Defence barrister David Perry BL told the court he wanted to confirm that Mr Mackin wished to come on record as solicitor for Mr Kinahan.

Mr Perry said he was only appearing to confirm Mr Kinahan’s legal representation.

He added that the solicitor had sent his apologies that he could not attend in person because of “unexpected circumstances that arose elsewhere”.

Mr Perry asked for the case to be put back to next Monday to allow the application to be made, and asked that Mr Kinahan be produced in person at the next appearance.

He confirmed that Mr Kinahan was aware of the application and that there was a preference to have him appear in person.

Ms Justice Biggs replied: “That’s fine.”

She remanded Mr Kinahan for a week to allow his solicitor to come on record.