Kinehan cartel ‘chief plotted to get weapons to disclose to police’
A Kinahan ‘cartel leader and associates’ are due to go on trial next month over an alleged plot to acquire firearms and ammunition which they could reveal to police in a bid for a lesser sentence.
Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh, 56, was arrested along with Shaun Kent, 38, and Daniel McLoughlin, 37, as part of an investigation by the National Crime Agency — dubbed Britain’s FBI.
Kavanagh’s brother-in-law Liam Byrne, 43, was also charged in relation to the plot after being extradited to the UK from Spain.
Bespectacled Kavanagh and Byrne, both from Dublin, along with McLoughlin, appeared at the Old Bailey today over video-link from maximum security HMP Belmarsh.
Kent appeared in court from HMP Forest Bank in Manchester.
Judge Philip Katz, KC, also appeared on a remote link from Lewes Crown Court in Sussex.
Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh, 56, (pictured) was arrested along with Shaun Kent, 38, and Daniel McLoughlin, 37, as part of an investigation by the National Crime Agency
He confirmed the trial would remain listed for 2 September with jury selection likely to take place a week later ahead of prosecutor Tom Forster opening the case on 11 September.
Mr Forster said: ‘The Crown would welcome this trial to stay in the list next week and hopefully open it the week after.’
McLoughlin denies conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate, conspiracy to possess ammunition without a certificate, conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon and conspiracy to possession prohibited ammunition.
Kent denies two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate, two counts of conspiracy to possession ammunition without a certificate, two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon, two counts of conspiracy to possess prohibited ammunition and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Kavanagh is charged with the same offences as Kent but has not yet entered pleas.
Kavanagh and Byrne, both from Dublin, along with McLoughlin, appeared at the Old Bailey (pictured) today over video-link from maximum security HMP Belmarsh
Kent denies three counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm without a certificate, three counts of conspiracy to possession ammunition without a certificate, three counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon and two counts of conspiracy to possess prohibited ammunition.
The charges relate to messages harvested from Encrochat, the encrypted messaging platform used by crime gangs and infiltrated by law enforcement.
The conspiracy to pervert the course of justice charge against Kent alleges he conspired with with Byrne and others to do a series of acts to come into possession of firearms ‘and thereafter to hide them and then reveal their whereabouts to the NCA to enable Thomas Kavanagh to receive a lesser sentence.’
