UAE Extradites Sean McGovern in Image Makeover Attempt But Rule of Law Remains in Question
Dublin, Ireland: 30 May 2025
Extradition expert Radha Stirling warns the Emirates remains a dangerous jurisdiction despite headline-grabbing extradition
The United Arab Emirates has extradited Sean McGovern, an alleged associate of the Kinahan cartel, to Ireland in a move widely portrayed as a sign that the country is no longer a haven for transnational crime. But according to Radha Stirling, an Interpol and Extradition expert and founder of Detained in Dubai, the action is less about judicial reform and more about managing international optics.
“This extradition is being used as a public relations exercise,” Stirling said. “The UAE wants to shed its reputation as a criminal safe haven, especially under pressure from Interpol, the FATF, and Western allies. But one extradition doesn’t reflect meaningful change in a legal system that remains opaque, politicised, and lacking in basic due process.”
Stirling, who has represented dozens of clients facing wrongful detention, politicised prosecutions, and retaliatory extradition attempts in the UAE, warns that the Emirates remains an unpredictable and unsafe jurisdiction for anyone who finds themselves accused, whether fairly or not.
“Extraditions from the UAE are rarely the result of impartial legal proceedings. More often, they are part of political or diplomatic bargaining. Quid pro quo arrangements that have little to do with justice. This makes it incredibly dangerous for anyone with business disputes, political enemies, or public profiles that might make them a target.”
While the UAE’s cooperation in extraditing McGovern is likely to be promoted as a gesture of good faith, Stirling says it must be viewed in the broader context of selective enforcement and strategic image management.
“The UAE continues to host high-profile individuals facing serious international scrutiny. Yet enforcement appears to depend not on the strength of evidence, but on whether the person in question is politically and economically expendable. There is no consistency or transparency and that should deeply concern Ireland and all countries engaging in extradition treaties with the UAE.”
Stirling is also founder of IPEX Reform and Due Process International, organisations which have repeatedly raised concerns over abuse of INTERPOL systems and misuse of bilateral extradition agreements.
“McGovern’s extradition will be used to polish the UAE’s image. But the same risks remain, including arbitrary arrests, lack of fair trials, and politically motivated prosecutions. It is vital that Western governments approach such cooperation with caution and scrutiny.”
Despite repeated marketing efforts by the UAE to present itself as a modern and law-abiding partner in global security, Stirling warns that the fundamental legal landscape remains unchanged, putting foreign nationals at risk.
ENDS
For further comment or interviews with Radha Stirling:
📧 press@detainedindubai.org
📞 +44 (0)20 7222 5272
🌐 www.detainedindubai.org
📧 press@detainedindubai.org
📞 +44 (0)20 7222 5272
🌐 www.detainedindubai.org
