Court adjourns Kinahan case for solicitor application

Daniel Kinahan appeared by video link from Portlaoise Prison at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on October 5, where the court adjourned his case for a week to allow Belfast solicitor Darragh Mackin to apply to formally represent him. Mackin did not attend the hearing because of what barrister David Perry described as unexpected circumstances. Perry told the court that Mackin wished to come on record as Kinahan’s solicitor and asked for the case to be put back so the application could be made. The court granted the adjournment. Kinahan is expected to appear in person at the next hearing on October 12, according to court reports. Kinahan confirmed during the remote hearing that he could hear and see the court. The appearance lasted only a few minutes. He remains in custody at Portlaoise Prison. The 49-year-old is charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 18, 2015, and April 6, 2017. The charge is an allegation; the case has not established his guilt. At the October 5 hearing, the court did not decide Mackin’s application, and the reports do not confirm whether he has formally been accepted as Kinahan’s solicitor.