Daniel Kinahan has been remanded in custody after appearing before an Irish court charged with directing an organised crime group.

Mr Kinahan, 49, was transported to the Special Criminal Court in Dublin in a high-speed Garda convoy after being extradited to Ireland from Dubai earlier on Sunday on an Irish Government jet.

He landed on Irish soil at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel just after 6.30pm.

Crowds of people turned up to wait outside the building close to the city’s Phoenix Park in hopes of glimpsing him, and saw two convoys arrive separately at speed amid a security operation which involved armed Gardaí outside.

Mr Kinahan appeared in the dock wearing a black hoodie and appeared calm, putting on a pair of dark-rimmed glasses and taking a sip of water from a bottle after taking his seat.

He was not represented by a lawyer during the brief hearing before three judges.

He told the court: “I was taken in Dubai and isolated from Friday afternoon,” adding that he assumed a family member would have contacted a legal representative.

But he added that he was happy to proceed with the hearing at that stage.

Mr Kinahan did not react after being charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between October 18 2015 and April 6 2017.

Detective Sergeant Colin Davidson told the court that he had arrested Mr Kinahan on foot of an arrest warrant issued by the Irish courts at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel at 6.49pm that day.

He said he ensured that the accused understood the charge.

A judge told Mr Kinahan when the case would next be heard, and explained to him that because of the charge an application for bail would have to be made to the High Court.

Mr Kinahan said: “I understand. I think we know I won’t be getting bail, but thank you.”

He was then remanded in custody and taken to Portlaoise Prison.

He will next appear in court on October 5, and was told that he has the option of either attending in person or appearing via video link.

He said he would decide later.