May.31, 2010, Source: The Irish Times

THE IRISHMAN alleged to be the leader of the major international drugs and money laundering cartel under investigation across Europe has appeared for questioning before a court in Spain.

Christy Kinahan, a 53-year-old Dubliner originally from the south inner city, was one of 22 people arrested in Spain last week to be brought before the courts there over the weekend.

He has been remanded in custody pending further investigations.

The convicted drug dealer and money launderer can now be held in prison without charge for two years while the Spanish authorities, the Garda and the British Serious Organised Crime Agency continue their investigations into his gang.

A major security operation was put in place at the courthouse in Estepona, around 16 kilometres (10 miles) from Marbella on the Costa del Sol, when Kinahan appeared for questioning before judge María Carmen Gutiérrez Henares on Saturday.

Kinahan’s two son – Daniel and Christopher jnr – also appeared before the court for questioning.

Like their father, they were also remanded in custody.

All three are now being held in Alhaurín de la Torre prison near Malaga.

They are expected to appear again before the courts regularly in the weeks ahead. Under the Spanish investigative system, detectives must regularly bring news of progress in their investigation before a judge who effectively directs the investigation.

Suspects are normally not formally charged with criminal offences until just before their trial is due to take place.

It is unclear when trials, if any, will take place or if some of the Irish suspects will be freed before any charges are levelled against them.

Most of the other 22 people arrested in southern Spain at the same time as the Kinahans last Tuesday, were also brought before the courts over the weekend. The court sittings were closed to the media but many of the suspects could be identified because they were brought handcuffed to and from the courthouse by Spanish police in full view of journalists and photographers gathered outside.

One of those who appeared but was granted bail was well-known Dublin criminal John Cunningham.

The 58-year-old armed robber and drug dealer was convicted and jailed for the Jennifer Guinness kidnapping in 1986.

He appeared before the court in Estepona on Saturday night but was granted bailed pending further inquiries. He has been told to surrender his passport and to appear before the court again as part of his bail conditions.

Around half of the suspects arrested in Spain, including Irish and British nationals and four Spanish solicitors, were released while the other half remain in custody.

The 11 alleged members of Kinahan’s gang arrested in Britain during the international operation on Tuesday morning were all released without charge last week.

Investigations are continuing in Britain into their alleged involvement in Kinahan’s drugs smuggling and multi-million euro investment and money laundering network.

The only man arrested in Ireland was detained on Tuesday morning at an address in Dublin’s north inner city.

He has appeared before the courts in relation to a drugs trafficking charge and has been freed on bail.

The drugs offences he has been charged with are believed to relate to a drug seizure a number of years ago in Dublin.

He is currently not charged with any offence relating to the investigation into the Kinahan-led gang.