Gangster Kinahan Graham ‘The Wig’ Whelan helped run ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh’s drug network in Ireland at the time of his arrest

KINAHAN gangster Graham ‘The Wig’ Whelan was helping run Thomas ‘Bomber’ Kavanagh’s drug network in Ireland at the time of his arrest.

And the Irish Sun was also able to reveal how Whelan also held a meeting with Kavanagh in the days following the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016.

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In the months following the summit, Whelan – who recently formed a close friendship with the star MMA Conor McGregorAoife’s younger sister, a well-respected businesswoman with no criminal involvement and no criminal record – still maintains a close relationship with Kavanagh.

Bombers are classified as having “equal status” with Daniel Kinahan in the cartel and Whelan is helping run his drug empire in Ireland.

A source said: “Whelan is Kavanagh’s main man in Ireland and has been with him for over 20 years.

“He was one of the few people Kavanagh trusted and was charged with running the gang’s drug trafficking operations in Ireland. Whlean has contacts throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom and Spain and is an important cog in the operations of corporations. “

But Whelan – a staunch supporter of corporate killer Fat Freddie Thompson – suffered a blow when Kavanagh was arrested by the National Crime Agency in the UK in July 2020 for running a smuggling operation. giant cocaine smuggler.

And The Wig’s troubles continued this week as he lost €75,000 to the Criminal Property Bureau.

He lost money after being jailed last November for 18 months after pleading guilty to using the proceeds of a crime to pay for a three-night stay at the Intercontinental Hotel’s Penthouse Suite in Ballsbridge in January 2019 .

During his stay at the hotel, he was targeted by investigators from the Garda National Bureau of Drugs and Organized Crime, who recovered an Audemars Piquet watch worth 28 thousand euros, a drug ticker list, six cell phones including an Encrochat phone and a small amount of drugs.

Just a few days after the raid, he received 75,000 euros from his groom, John Wilson.

The money – from a claim – was later seized by CAB before Whelan went to the Supreme Court as part of his efforts to pay it back.

Whelan explained that it was a business loan that he intended to pay back within five years with interest to his uncle, and the judge noted that a loan agreement had been signed.

‘Criminal PROCEDURES’

But the Supreme Court ruled Whelan received the cash as a “money laundering act” and how his aim was to repay it “from the proceeds of the crime”.

In his ruling, Chief Justice Alex Owens also accepted the testimony of CAB Chief of Staff Det Chief Supt Michael Gubbins.

The senior judge also said he did not conclude that Mr Wilson knew of Whelan’s intentions but said the case illustrates “the dangers that people with a lot of money should be aware of”.

He said that any decision on whether John Wilson has a valid claim for the 75,000 euros “is a matter for another day”.

Whelan has 33 convictions, including one for possession of cocaine and ecstasy worth 1.5 million euros and one in Spain for bodily harm.

Mr Justice Owens said: “It is clear that Graham Whelan was involved in organized crime long before 2019 and that he was involved in substantial drug trafficking and other serious criminal activities.”