Special report: The rise and rise of a real-life Mr Big

How Christy Kinahan became the leader of a €1 billion crime empire

Christy Kinahan pictured in Antwerp in Belgium All pictures: Padraig O’Reilly
Christy Kinahan jr at the funeral of David Byrne

There are certain episodes in Christy Kinahan’s life that are deeply significant. The drug lord made choices at particular times that propelled him further down the road of organised crime. Why he made those choices is still a mystery.

Over the past two months, I have been researching the life and crimes of Kinahan. In making the recently broadcast Prime Time documentary on him, myself, producer ...