Sean McGovern: Kinahans vowed not to stop until all Hutch gang were 'gone', court hears

Eoin Reynolds

Within two days of the Regency Hotel attack, senior Kinahan cartel member Sean McGovern swore on his baby's life that he would not stop, while another leader vowed to keep going until all the Hutch gang were "gone", a court has heard.

Detective Superintendent David Gallagher is giving evidence on Monday at the three-judge Special Criminal Court in the sentence hearing of McGovern, who has pleaded guilty to directing the activities of the Kinahan gang.

The detective told the court that gardaí compiled evidence showing how the Kinahan gang tracked James 'Mago' Gately, who they believed was involved in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack in which David Byrne was shot dead and McGovern was injured.

In one text exchange between McGovern and a senior Kinahan gang member identified only as 'Cap', McGovern said: "They targeted us, they wanted you," and swore on his baby's life: "I'm not stopping now."

They also discussed going after other relatives of the Hutch family while Cap described the Hutch gang as 'scum' and said he would not stop until they are "all gone".

In a later exchange, when the Kinahans were targeting James Gately, McGovern described Gately as a weasel and added: "All weasels get caught out in the end."

Earlier this year, the 40-year-old, with a previous address at Kildare Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 20th and December 22nd 2016, both dates inclusive, both within and outside the State, in relation to the murder of Christopher aka Noel Kirwan.

McGovern also admitted directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 17th, 2015 and April 6th, 2017, both dates inclusive, both within and outside the State, in connection with the surveillance of James Gately in preparation for the commission of an indictable offence.

McGovern, who was injured during the attack at the Regency Hotel on February 5th 2016, has been described as a significant figure with a leadership role in the Kinahan organised crime group.

Christopher Kirwan was an innocent man with no connection to either the Kinahan or Hutch criminal organisations. He was targeted after being photographed at the funeral of a Hutch family member.

Gately has survived two attempts on his life, including one attempted hit in which he was shot five times as he sat in his car at a petrol station in May 2017.