Kinahan’s spouse ‘knew what she was marrying into’ and beloved £1bn life within the quick lane

When Caoimhe Robinson tied the knot with suspected cartel boss Danial Kinahan in 2017, she could be under no illusions what sort of life she was marrying into. Security was tight at the ceremony at the “seven-star” Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

The couple were said to have been perched on thrones underneath a giant chandelier during the ceremony, which was attended by underworld figures, drug lords and even heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury.

But neither of them are sitting comfortably now. Kinahan is holed up in Ireland’s maximum security jail facing what insiders say is his “toughest challenge yet”. And his wife faces an anxious wait as to whether she can cling on to her life of luxury in Dubai.

Kinahan was arrested in Dubai in April amid a crackdown on international crime as the United Arab Emirates seeks to protect its status as an economic powerhouse. Many of those in the ranks of “super cartel” at the lavish wedding have been detained and deported.

He was arrested and extradited back to Ireland, where authorities believe him to be the head of the notorious Kinahan Organised Crime Group (KOCG) founded by his father Christy Kinahan Sr.

Those close to the couple say Caoimhe, who grew up in a council estate in Darndale, North Dublin, is standing firmly by her partner as their lavish lifestyle hangs in the balance. And the five kids the couple have between them are also still in Dubai.

And when it comes to romantic relationships, the glamorous blonde appears to have a type. Caoimhe was previously in a long-term relationship with Irish drug lord Michael “the Panda” Kelly, a suspect in a number of murders.

She met when she was in her early 20s, but her world was shattered in September 2011 when Kelly was gunned down in North Dublin. His assassin shot him 14 times before reversing a car over his body, shortly after she gave birth to their only child.

Dissident paramilitary group the Real IRA boldly claimed the hit as on theirs. After his death, “RIRA anti-drugs. Micka Kelly drug dealer dead” was spray painted on a wall in their Northside stronghold. Their leader Alan Ryan was later gunned down in retaliation.

Three years later, Caoimhe was introduced to Kinahan while on holiday in Spain, where the cartel’s operations were headquartered at the time.

She moved to the Costa del Sol to be with him and they enjoyed a lavish life in and around Marbella, where Kinahan had set up a boxing management company and gym. But in 2016, they were on the move again.

Kinahan fled to Dubai after a feud with a rival gang resulted in an attempt on his life in a gangland attack at a boxing weigh-in in Dublin. The fallout of the botched hit led to increased scrutiny falling on the organised crime group throughout Europe.

David Byrne, who had links to the cartel, was shot dead during the incident, but Kinahan was widely thought to have been the intended target.

The gulf city, which at the time had no extradition agreement with Ireland, was awash with wanted criminals at the time. The Kinahan family were able to live freely and are accused of running a criminal enterprise that allegedly spanned five continents.

Google reviews that Christy Sr posted under an alias, uncovered by the investigative group Bellingcat, demonstrate that the family barely faced any restrictions on their freedoms.

One review of Dubai’s City Walk shopping precinct read: “Wonderful place to stroll around, particularly in the evening, lots of restaurants to choose from. Family (child) friendly, relaxed chilled out atmosphere. I unreservedly rate this area five-star but not cheap.”

Caoimhe and her husband were said to be regulars at the upmarket French restaurant At.mosphere, on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai skyscraper in which the Burj Al Arab is also located. She was known to spend time at the hotel’s luxury beach club.

There is a fear this lifestyle may come crashing down around her feet after Kinahan’s arrest. Her close pal Anita Freeman has ditched her luxury lifestyle in Dubai to return to Ireland after her partner Sean McGovern was jailed for his role in the cartel.

However, family friend and former gangster Marvin Herbert says Caoimhe won’t be fazed by her husband’s arrest. He said: “She wouldn’t be his wife if she couldn’t deal with his life. She knew what she was marrying into – it’s life in the fast lane.”