DANIEL MULLAN EXTRADITED FROM CO MAYO TO THE US OVER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE

In a significant development in international criminal justice, Daniel Mullan, an 80-year-old man with ties to Co Mayo, is set to be extradited from Ireland to the United States to face serious charges related to child sexual abuse images and videos. The FBI has accused Mullan of engaging in the production and distribution of child pornography for over three decades, with investigations revealing a disturbing pattern of behavior that spans multiple countries and jurisdictions.

Daniel Mullan, a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, has been the subject of a lengthy investigation by US authorities. He is wanted in New York on multiple charges, including the sexual exploitation and transportation of a minor, as well as two counts of possessing child pornography. The case against him is particularly grave, given the FBI's assertion that he has been involved in these illicit activities for at least 30 years.

Mullan’s arrest in Ireland occurred in October 2017, shortly after he completed a five-year prison sentence in Ireland for abusing a boy in Co Mayo during the 1990s. This was his only conviction related to sexual offenses in any jurisdiction. His arrest was made following a US extradition request, which was supported by evidence gathered during the investigation, including a search of his residence in Elmont, New York. During that search, authorities reportedly discovered a substantial collection of child pornography material, further implicating him in the alleged crimes.

The legal process to extradite Mullan has been lengthy. The Irish High Court ordered his extradition last December, and his final legal challenge was dismissed by the Irish Supreme Court on July 31st. Despite his efforts to contest the extradition, the courts upheld the decision, paving the way for his transfer to the United States.

Interestingly, Mullan’s background includes a period during which he helped train the renowned racehorse Secretariat. Although he is primarily identified as a US resident, he has spent considerable time living in the Middle East and Europe. Efforts to deport him from Ireland while he was serving his sentence were complicated by the fact that he holds Irish citizenship, which provided him with certain legal protections.

On the day he was due to be released from Midlands Prison in Ireland, October 16th, 2017, coinciding with the storm known as Ophelia, Mullan had plans to leave the country. He had a car and driver waiting outside the prison, along with two booked flights to Dubai—one departing from Dublin and the other from Belfast. Additionally, a third flight was scheduled for the previous Friday, in case he was released early. However, Irish detectives from the Garda’s Extradition Unit intervened just in time to prevent his escape.

During the extradition proceedings, Det Sgt Jim Kirwan, head of the unit, expressed concerns about Mullan’s flight risk, citing his alleged connections to the Saudi royal family and access to significant financial resources. Evidence presented in court indicated that large sums of money, totaling approximately $685,000 (€615,000), had been transferred into Mullan’s bank account over the three years prior to his arrest, from undisclosed sources. The detective also revealed links to prominent Saudi figures, including the late King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who died in 2015, and Prince Turki Bin Abdullah, who was imprisoned last year by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Further investigations by US authorities uncovered a safe deposit box believed to belong to Mullan in New York. Inside, authorities found bundles of $10,000 in $100 bills, Swiss Francs, and several Rolex watches. Some of the money was stored in envelopes bearing official Saudi insignia, and receipts from Jeddah, a Saudi city, included a handwritten note referencing “credit for boys” alongside a numerical figure. It is important to note that there is no evidence linking these Saudi individuals to the charges Mullan faces.

Throughout his legal battle, Mullan has been privately funding his extradition process through Irish courts. It has also been reported that he has legally adopted several boys in America over the years. The allegations against him are severe, accusing him of participating in the creation, possession, and sale of child pornography, involving himself in sexually explicit conduct with minors, and maintaining a collection of such material. The US authorities allege that he has been involved in these activities both within the United States and internationally, with evidence suggesting he produced and distributed this material over a period of at least 30 years.