Thomas KavanaghJailed for Gun Plot Conspiracy

Thomas Kavanagh, a 57-year-old leader of the Kinahan organized crime group, has been sentenced to six years in prison for orchestrating a plot to amass weapons in a bid to receive a lighter sentence for drug smuggling. Kavanagh enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, Liam Byrne, and associate Shaun Kent to collect and conceal a cache of firearms, intending to present this to the National Crime Agency (NCA) as an act of cooperation. The scheme involved acquiring various firearms, including machine guns and handguns, which were ultimately uncovered due to encrypted messages intercepted by law enforcement. The judge highlighted Kavanagh's manipulation of the situation, as he continued to orchestrate criminal activities from prison. All three conspirators admitted to the charges ahead of their trial, with Byrne receiving a five-year sentence and Kent getting six years. The case underscores a significant level of organized crime, with Kavanagh having previously been sentenced to 21 years for drug-related offenses.