A 42-year-old man has admitted to facilitating the Kinahan organised crime group in carrying out a serious offence by buying a mobile top-up for a leading member of the international crime gang.
Michael Crotty, of Slí Aonghusa, Áras na Rí, Cashel, Co Tipperary, pleaded guilty to a new charge at the Special Criminal Court after initially pleading not guilty to helping the gang murder a father of four who was shot dead at his home seven years ago.
Defence counsel said Crotty accepted he was reckless in buying the phone credit for Sean McGovern but that it had never been his intention that it be used to endanger anyone.
Detective Superintendent David Gallagher told the court that Sean McGovern is connected to the Kinahan organised crime group and described him as “a significant figure within the organisation in a leadership role and is currently based in Dubai”.
Noel Kirwan was shot dead as he sat in his car in the driveway of his home at St Ronan’s Drive in Clondalkin three days before Christmas 2016.
The court heard that Kirwan was mistakenly thought to have been connected to the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016 which escalated the ongoing Hutch-Kinahan feud.
A tracker device had been placed on Kirwan’s car which was monitored from an apartment in the Beacon South Quarter.
DNA of Declan Brady, a senior figure in the Kinahan organised crime group, was found on a toothbrush there.
Brady who was known as “Mr Nobody” has already pleaded guilty to helping the gang commit the crime as has another Kinahan gang member Martin Alymer.
Three unregistered prepaid mobile phones were used in the murder of Noel Kirwan.
Crotty pleaded guilty to a new charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act.
He admitted that between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016, both dates inclusive and within the State, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation did participate in, or contribute to, activity intending to, or being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by that criminal organisation or any of its members.
Ms Justice Caroline Biggs extended Crotty’s bail and adjourned the brief hearing to 22 April for sentencing.
