The court heard that he had provided information in relation to the location of the weapons which were concealed in the Republic of Ireland.

breaking | 

Kinahan boss Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh appears in court on major firearms charges

Liam Byrne and Kavanagh’s son, Jack, are currently in custody in Spain fighting extradition to the UK as part of the same case

Tue 8 Aug 2023 at 11:43

THOMAS ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh has been charged in relation to firearms offences as part of the same investigation that has seen his son Jack and brother-in-law Liam Byrne fight extradition proceedings.

Kavanagh appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court this morning, along with co-accused Shaun Kent and Daniel McLoughlin.

Dubliner Kavanagh faces five charges: conspiracy to possess firearms without a certificate, possessing ammunition without a certificate, possession of a ‘fire bull’ firearm – a weapon which can fire repeatedly without any pressure being added to the trigger – and possession of a ‘dumdum bullet’, which explodes prior to impact.

Kent and Kavanagh are also charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

The court heard that the investigation centres on Encrochat ‘handles’ and information received about firearms, some of which were hidden in Ireland.

The court also heard that 11 firearms are involved in the related charges and that Kavanagh will remain in custody to appear at the Central Criminal Court in London.

Kavanagh remained solemn faced throughout the proceedings from a ‘lobby’ room and made no comments to the court.

The court heard that he had provided information in relation to the location of the weapons which were concealed in the Republic of Ireland.

He is already serving 21 years after he pleaded guilty to importing more than £30 million of cocaine and cannabis in a commercial-scale smuggling operation uncovered by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

Liam Byrne and Kavanagh’s son, Jack, are currently in custody in Spain fighting extradition to the UK, where it is alleged encrypted messages link the pair to a gang buying firearms for sale to other organised crime mobs.