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Date Published: 06/06/2023

WATCH: Irish Kinahan crime boss arrested in Spanish restaurant

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Fugitive Liam Byrne was wanted in the UK when he was nabbed by Mallorca police

WATCH: Irish Kinahan crime boss arrested in Spanish restaurant

Police in Spain have arrested a “priority fugitive” from the UK and an alleged gang leader of the violent Kinahan cartel in Ireland.

Liam Byrne, 42, was picked up by cops in a restaurant in the town of Alcudia after secretly flying from his hideout in Dubai to Mallorca to catch up with his family, who live on the Spanish island.

Byrne’s brother David was killed at a boxing event at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016 as part of an ongoing feud between the Kinahan and Hutch organised crime gangs. Cartel leader Gerry Hutch, 60, was acquitted of the murder in April and is since believed to have returned to his luxury villa in Spain.

A warrant was issued in the UK for Byrne’s arrest on suspicion of illegal firearms possession and according to the National Crime Agency (NCA), he was arrested by the Spanish National Police while having dinner with relatives on Sunday June 4.

🚩Detenido en #Mallorca un #fugitivo prioritario para el #ReinoUnido

🔹Pertenecía al clan Kinahan

🔹Lideraba una red criminal dedicada al tráfico de #armas de fuego con las que suministraba a otras organizaciones

🔹Viajó a Mallorca para reunirse en secreto con su familia pic.twitter.com/jD4rMmR8aV
— Policía Nacional (@policia) June 5, 2023

A spokesperson for the Spanish authorities described Byrne as “a dangerous Irish fugitive” and explained that he is wanted for allegedly buying and trafficking pistols and submachine guns in the UK on behalf of the Kinahan cartel, as well a for number of drug-related offences.

His high-profile capture comes just days after fellow Kinahan gang member Jack Kavanagh, originally from Staffordshire, was collared at Malaga Airport on Tuesday May 30.

An Garda Síochána Commissioner Justin Kelly said the arrest of Liam Byrne was a "particularly significant development" in the international efforts "to dismantle the operations of the Kinahan organised crime group".

Kay Mellor of the NCA said: "This investigation is part of the NCA's ongoing work targeting the Kinahan crime group.

"Liam Byrne and Jack Kavanagh have been evading justice for a number of years, but have now been arrested in relation to serious firearms offences.

"We have an excellent relationship with the Spanish National Police and will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure those who think they can stay under the radar have no place to hide."

Both fugitives are currently in custody in Spain awaiting extradition.

In other news: British man killed by tram in Barcelona

Image: National Crime Agency

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