EXCLUSIVE | 

‘Bomber Kavanagh is a rat’ – Former pal Peadar Keating blows lid on jailed cartel boss

Gangland boss’s associate furious after plans to give up guns to cops in a bid to secure a shorter sentence backfires badly

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Gangland hardman Peadar Keating branded his boss Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh a ‘rat’ this week after he was told he is wanted in the UK on gun conspiracy charges.

Keating, who is serving an 11-year prison term in Portlaoise, is wanted by the National Crime Agency as part of new charges brought against Kavanagh, his son Jack and Liam Byrne, who is fighting extradition in Spain.

Keating has been implicated in a bizarre case which has backfired on Kavanagh after he tried to give up guns to authorities in order to lessen his own sentence for drug trafficking.

He was brought to the High Court in Dublin for an extradition hearing this week, accused of conspiring to possess firearms and helping jailed Kavanagh beat a gun rap.

The State is seeking to extradite the 42-year-old to face the charges over the alleged plot to assist Kavanagh to reduce his 21-year jail term for masterminding a drug smuggling operation.

Keating has been a loyal lieutenant of Kavanagh for decades in Ireland, running his drugs and weapons, and is currently in prison over an attempt to kill Hutch loyalist James ‘Mago’ Gately in a plot directed by Daniel Kinahan and Sean McGovern from Dubai.

A source said: “He is spitting fire that Kavanagh has ratted him out to the police. After years of loyalty the gloves are off and he is telling everyone that listens that Bomber is a ‘rat.’”

A court in the UK heard that Kavanagh and Liam Byrne had assisted officers locating 11 guns in Newry as the mob boss tried to plea bargain behind the scenes for a reduced sentence. But officers double crossed the gang and seized the guns before bringing further charges against the wider group.

Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the extradition case for a hearing date to be set later and Keating was returned to prison after the brief hearing.

He has told fellow prisoners that Kavanagh ‘ratted him out’ to save his own skin and is furious as he now faces completing his Irish sentence in a UK prison where he will also have to face court on gun charges.

A warrant was issued for Keating at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 16 when Kavanagh and others appeared from custody. He is accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by assisting Kavanagh’s attempt to reduce his sentence for conspiring to import Class A and B drugs.

The case centres around the seizure of automatic weapons and ammunition and nine offences which are alleged to have happened between January 9, 2020 and June 3, 2021.

Last month Kavanagh appeared in court charged with a plot to acquire firearms and ammunition. He was arrested along with Shaun Kent (37) and Daniel McLoughlin (36) as part of the NCA’s investigation.

At the hearing Kavanagh appeared over video link from the maximum security Belmarsh jail and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

McLoughlin has denied conspiracies to possess a firearm and ammunitions without a certificate and conspiracies to possess a prohibited weapon and ammunitions.

Kent denied two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm and ammunitions without a certificate and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The UK court heard that the conspiracy to pervert the court of justice charge against Kent reads: “You Shaun Kent, conspired with Liam Byrne, James Keating and Peadar Keating and others unknown to do a series of acts to come into possession of firearms. And thereafter to hide them and then reveal their whereabouts to the NCA to enable Thomas Kavanagh to receive a lesser sentence.”

The investigation centres on Encrochat handles and information received about firearms, some of which were hidden in Ireland. A trial estimated to last between four and six weeks has been set for September 2 next year at the Old Bailey.

In June, Kinahan lieutenant Liam Byrne, a brother-in-law of Kavanagh, was arrested while holidaying in Majorca. Kavanagh’s son Jack was also arrested in Spain and both are now fighting extradition from there.

Byrne appeared at Spain’s Audiencia Nacional court which deals with extraditions via video link and remanded in custody.

Byrne was held on the UK-issued arrest warrant at a restaurant in the Majorcan town of Alcudia while having dinner with his young children, having flown there from his hideaway in Dubai.

In a statement the NCA said: “Liam Byrne (42), from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime gang, was arrested while eating in a restaurant with family members. He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on May 26th.

“Another suspected member of the crime group, Jack Kavanagh, 22, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, was arrested by officers from the Spanish National Police while transiting from Dubai to Turkey.

“The arrests follow an NCA intelligence led investigation, supported by the Spanish National Police and officers from An Garda Siochana in Ireland. The NCA obtained Trade and Co-Operation Agreement warrants after EncroChat messages showed they were believed to be involved in the supply and acquisition of firearms.”

Kay Mellor, Regional Head of Investigations at the NCA said: “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.”

The implications of the case have far wider concerns within gangland. While Keating is openly distancing himself from Kavanagh, the Kinahan mob are equally horrified that he tried to co-operate with cops when the heat was on him.

A $15 million reward remains in place from US authorities for information into the financial workings of the Kinahan organisations and leader Christy Kinahan Snr and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jnr. They remain in Dubai where a delegation of An Garda Siochana recently visited.