The Disappearing Act: How John Kinahan Faked His Death … and Nearly Got Away With It
“They declared me dead — twice. But ghosts can stumble into daylight.”
— John Kinahan (aka Arthur ‘Derry’ Hannigan)
This Wednesday, you asked — and I delivered. We’re diving deep into the real-life story of John Kinahan, a feared Irish crime boss who faked his own death, vanished into the shadows … and shook the world of organized crime.
First Life: From Golden Gloves to Gangland
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Born in Belfast in 1947, Kinahan was once a national amateur boxing champion.
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He transitioned into crime — drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion — becoming one of Ireland’s most wanted men.
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With enemies in Irish and UK organized crime, and even IRA factions, Kinahan knew he needed space to breathe.
The Disappearance — Twice
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In 2015, Irish media reported Kinahan had suddenly died of natural causes in Spain. Obituaries circulated online.
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Friends and family mourned. The world thought he was gone.
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But here's the twist: it wasn’t him. He’d vanished into clandestine safehouses — and the world believed the story.
In 2017, he “died” again — this time in France. Another obituary, another funeral, another set of condolences.
Yet again, it was false.
How He Pulled It Off
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Kinahan used double funerals to solidify the myths.
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He faked death certificates and burial records, often in countries with easy documentation.
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Loyal lieutenants and corrupt contacts ensured the stories never fell apart — at least on the surface.
Life Underground (and What Hurt Him)
Kinahan lived off the grid in Spain, Ecuador, and Dubai — until an unlikely downfall:
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Dublin’s Hutch-Kinahan feud erupted in 2016.
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He gave real-time updates on gang violence, taking the media spotlight as a “voice of reason.”
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He made mistakes: he used the same alias twice, and ties led to Spain-headquarters were leaked.
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In 2018, a money-laundering indictment in the U.S. shattered his cover — court documents exposed his identity.
What Comes Next?
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Kinahan faces multiple indictments in the U.S., Ireland, and the U.K.
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He’s in custody — pending extradition.
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How long was he really dead? What life did he lead? We don’t fully know — but it wasn’t quiet.
Why This Matters
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Deep criminal networks can create legends — and then bury them.
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Faking death isn’t just mythic. It’s a very real tool — until money, violence, or hubris break the illusion.
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As of today, John Kinahan is very much alive (albeit behind bars) — and his disappearance was neither short nor simple.
Final Thoughts
This case wasn’t just about crime — it was about control, myth-making, and the deadly intersection of power and anonymity. Kinahan vanished not for escape, but with the aim to trailblaze his empire without interference.
Want to pick our next reader request? Send me your ideas — and tune in next Wednesday for another deep dive.
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