Thomas the Bulldog Kavanagh. doing 21 Years Jail.

Thomas “Bomber” Kavanagh is a notorious Irish criminal and a senior member of the Kinahan Organized Crime Group. Born in Dublin, he rose through the ranks of the underworld, becoming a key figure in the cartel’s UK operations. Known for his involvement in drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses, Kavanagh has faced significant

legal consequences over the years.

• Criminal History: Kavanagh’s criminal record dates back to the 1990s, with a 1990 conviction for a firearms offense in Ireland, resulting in a seven-year sentence. By the late 1990s, he was one of the first targets of Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), which seized his Dublin home and secured a £106,000 tax order against him for income derived from crime. He relocated to the UK in 2008 to evade CAB pressure.
• Kinahan Cartel Role: Kavanagh is considered a top-tier leader in the Kinahan cartel, overseeing multimillion-pound drug smuggling operations, including cocaine and cannabis worth an estimated €36 million. He operated from a fortified mansion in Tamworth, Staffordshire, complete with bulletproof glass and reinforced doors, which served as a base for his criminal empire.
• Major Convictions:
  • 2019: Arrested at Birmingham Airport, he was initially jailed for three years for possessing a 10,000-volt stun gun disguised as a torch, found among an arsenal at his home.
  • 2020-2022: Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering at Ipswich Crown Court, receiving a 21-year sentence in March 2022 alongside associates Gary Vickery and Daniel Canning. The National Crime Agency (NCA) described this as a major blow to the Kinahan cartel’s UK operations.
  • 2023-2024: Kavanagh orchestrated a plot from prison to dupe the NCA by revealing a cache of 11 firearms (including machine guns and an assault rifle) buried in Northern Ireland, hoping for a reduced sentence. The scheme, involving his brother-in-law Liam Byrne and others, was uncovered via hacked EncroChat messages. In October 2024, he was sentenced to an additional six years, to run concurrently with his 21-year term, for firearms conspiracy and perverting the course of justice.
• Recent Developments: Kavanagh’s son, Jack, and other associates, including Liam Byrne, were also convicted in related firearms plots, with Jack sentenced to over three years in 2024. Kavanagh faces a Serious Crime Prevention Order, restricting his movements and communications upon release. He’s reportedly appealing his 21-year sentence and seeking repatriation to an Irish prison, though this could take years.
• Personal Details: Now 57, Kavanagh is married to Joanne Byrne, sister of Liam Byrne, tying him closely to the cartel’s leadership. He’s believed to have smuggled drugs worth €700 million over a decade and lived a lavish lifestyle, presenting himself as a luxury car dealer to launder money.

Kavanagh remains a significant figure in organized crime, with ongoing investigations into his assets and influence, despite his incarceration in high-security facilities like HMP Belmarsh.