Graham Whelan (Irish criminal)

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Graham "the wig" Whelan is an Irish criminal who is part of the Kinahan Organised Crime Group. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

He is originally from Clonard Road in Crumlin. [3]

Criminal history

Crumlin-Drimnagh feud

He was one of three men arrested in the Holiday Inn Hotel in Pearse Street in 2000 for possession of €1.6 million worth of ecstasy tablets and cocaine. [3] He was 17 at the time and told Gardaí that he could do ten years in jail "standing on his head". [3]

The arrests resulted in the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud, in which he sided with Freddie Thompson. [3] He was given a six-year sentence after conviction and Phillip Griffiths was sentenced to seven years. Declan Gavan, the third man arrested, was fatally stabbed a week before his trial was due to start. [3]

In 2006 hitman Gary Bryan was murdered as part of the feud. [3] Whelan was arrested in 2007 in relation to this, but later released without charge, as was David Byrne. [3]

He moved to the UK in 2011 and was connected to Thomas Kavanagh. [3]

Spain arrest

He was convicted of grievous bodily harm in Spain in 2016 after a brawl and sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended. [3]

Ballsbridge arrest

On 31 January 2019 he was arrested in the International Hotel, Ballsbridge. [3] He was found in possession of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak gentleman's watch and €1,275, both of which were later found to be the proceeds of crime. [3] When asked where he got the money, he replied "up me Swiss roll" and told them to keep the money. [3]

At the Special Criminal Court defence council admitted that he had been "truculent" but that he had since become cooperative. [3]

He pleaded guilty to possession of the watch and cash, knowing them to be proceeds of crime and also of paying €2,140 for a three night stay at the International Hotel, knowing or believing the money to be proceeds of crime. [1] [2] [3]

In November 2021 he was sentenced to four years imprisonment, reduced to three years because of his early guilty plea and 18 months of the that sentence was suspended. [1] [2] [3] It was mentioned in court that he had 33 previous convictions, 5 for drug-related offences. [1] [2] [3]

Personal life

He and his wife have four children. [1] [2] [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Neilan, Paul (15 November 2021). "Graham 'The Wig' Whelan jailed for 18 months by Special Criminal Court". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Schiller, Robin (15 November 2021). "Kinahan cartel associate Graham 'The Wig' Whelan jailed for money laundering". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Sherry, Alan (6 October 2021). "From 'dangerous criminal' to 'changed man' - the life and crimes of Graham Whelan". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 15 November 2021.
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