Top Kinahan Crime Boss Liam Byrne Snared and Back in UK
Liam Byrne, tipped as one of the Kinahan gang’s most trusted operatives, has been flown back to the UK to face trial for alleged firearms offences. The daring arrest caps off a high-stakes National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation.
Arrested in Mallorca, Brought to Justice
Byrne, 42, from Dublin, was nabbed in June while dining in a Mallorca restaurant. He had arrived in Palma Airport from Dubai on 26 May.
Yesterday (12 December), a specialist NCA squad whisked him back to the UK. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today and was promptly remanded in custody.
Encrypted Chats Expose Firearms Plot
The NCA’s probe, backed by Spanish police and An Garda Síochána, was sparked by encrypted EncroChat messages. These hinted Byrne’s involvement in firearms supply and acquisition.
“The arrest and extradition of Liam Byrne highlights the NCA’s ongoing work to target the alleged criminal activities of the Kinahan organised crime group,” said Craig Turner, Deputy Director of Investigations at the NCA.
Byrne is set to return to court on 8 January 2024.
Another Kinahan Suspect Held in Spain
Meanwhile, Jack Kavanagh, 23, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, also linked to the gang, remains in Spanish custody. He was stopped at Malaga Airport on 30 May, en route from Dubai to Turkey, and is awaiting extradition.
