Christy Kinahan leaves Google restaurant reviews under 'Mr Vincent'

He is the feared mob boss with a $5million bounty on his head whose ruthless family cartel is linked to global drugs and arms trafficking.

Yet despite being one of the world's most elusive fugitives, Christy Kinahan hid in plain sight in Dubai doing something astonishingly mundane... posting Google reviews and travel tidbits.

The 68-year-old 'Dapper Don' - known for his trademark white Panama hat - rated restaurants, hotels and even government offices online while sauntering freely in the Gulf state.

Using the pseudonym Christopher Vincent, Kinahan brazenly posted hundreds of reviews and ratings, uploaded more than 1,000 photographs and built up a detailed digital footprint that offers an extraordinary glimpse into the life of one of the world's most wanted men.

The English-born Dubliner rated luxury hotels, rooftop bars and upmarket restaurants, the Dubai Rolex store, and even described sport-fishing in the Gulf - all while at the centre of an international police manhunt.

In March 2023 a review attributed to 'Christopher Vincent' appeared for Cycle Bistro in the plush Jumeirah district.

The reviewer praised the staff as 'pleasant and helpful', gave the place five stars, and detailed an order of acai bowl, eggs with almond bread and green salad, promising he would 'definitely return'.

He did - two months later, Kinahan and his wanted son Christopher Jnr, 45, were pictured dining there together in a photo shared on the restaurant’s social media accounts.

Kinahan, the godfather of a deadly family PLC worth a staggering $1.5billion, reviewed bars, Covid test centres and even Waitrose - with his profile reaching Google’s Level 7 reviewer status, clocking up more than 10,000 points between 2019 and 2023.

The sartorial gangster praised well-prepared food, likes mezze-style breakfasts, sea bass, quinoa and rib-eye steaks, and seemingly has little patience when made to wait.

In one restaurant review, he wrote that he walked out before the food arrived because of the delay.

In another, Kinahan, born to middle-class Irish parents in Perivale, west London, appeared irritated after a waitress called him 'boss'.

'I did explain that I did not like to be called boss and please could you call me "Chris, Mr Vincent or Sir"', he wrote.

'The waitress tittered, I thought nothing more of it until we were paying the bill (my friend was kind enough to pay the bill) and were about to leave when the same waitress made a point of saying "thanks boss!"

'Other than my sensitive disposition and taking the dining experience in it's [sic] entirety I would rate this establishment a four-star.'

The Kinahan cartel, authorities claim, control a significant share of the cocaine flowing into Europe and have been accused of money laundering through Hezbollah terrorists.

Investigators believe the family have worked with jihadists in Asia and helped both Russia and Iran evade sanctions by smuggling oil and ventured into cybercrime.

The Kinahans shifted to the UAE in 2016 - where there was no threat of extradition - after an attempt to murder Kinahan's son Daniel at a Dublin hotel sparked an eruption of gangland violence in which 18 people were killed.

Kinihan and his younger Turkish wife Neslihan Yildirim live in a plush apartment in the complex of City Walk in the Al Wasl district, home to Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury shops.

'Christopher Vincent' described the area as 'wonderful place to stroll around, particularly in the evening'.

He added: 'Lots of restaurants to choose from. Family (child) friendly, relaxed, chilled out. I unreservedly rate this area five-star but not cheap'.

And no doubt keen to please his UAE hosts, Kinahan even described visiting the Department of Economic Development in Dubai Mall to update his emirates ID.

'The only interaction with the staff that I had was with a security officer, who was most helpful in guiding me to the machine and then advising me on its use. Based on my experience whilst visiting this office I rate this visit five star,' he wrote in 2021.

That review landed at a time when the Irish government was using diplomatic channels to push Dubai to act against the Kinahans.

In another post - before US and Europol sanctions in 2022 effectively left the firm exiled in the UAE - the Don travelled to Fuengirola in Spain's Costa del Sol in September 2021 and visited the Restaurante Casa Roberto with 'three guests'.

In one post from Zimbabwe, he said he stayed at Amanzi Lodge for a 'business networking conference'.

In another, Kinahan described attending the Global Humanitarian Aviation Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where he praised the food, service and conference facilities.

'I stayed for 3 days and whilst I didn't use any of the pools I did notice that there were families enjoying all facilities and evening entertainment. I thought service was helpful and good as was the value for money,' he wrote.

And though many of the images were seemingly curated to protect his identity, some photographs taken on his Android phone appeared to include his reflection by mistake.

After 2022, Kinahan's Google activity focused largely on the UAE rather than his earlier globe-trotting travels.

One post placed him on a chartered fishing trip off Ras Al Khaimah, where he wrote: 'Excellent trip with friends. Caught a cartload of fish.'

Another showed him at the five-star InterContinental Fujairah Resort, sharing sunrise photos from the beachfront property taken on his Huawei P30 Pro smartphone.

Despite Ireland and the UAE signing an extradition treaty in October 2024, the Kinahans have continued to show themselves in public with striking confidence.

Last June, Kinahan and Daniel, 48, were spotted sitting openly in the white VIP seats at the front of a crowd of 6,000 at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena, doing little to obscure themselves.

US documents previously listed Daniel’s address as Palm Jumeirah - the man-made island synonymous with extravagant Gulf living.

His 2017 wedding to former gangster's moll Caoimhe Robinson was held under a huge chandelier in the ballroom of the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel, where guests included former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury.

However, the Daily Mail recently reveal that the Kinahans' seemingly carefree existence in the Gulf may soon be under threat, as the war in Iran heaps fresh pressure on the emirate.

Indeed, the Kinahans are understood to have secured a safe fallback option in Russia - where they are alleged to have helped the Kremlin evade sanctions and worked with Moscow's intelligence services.

The Irish Independent has reported that Kinahan and his two sons obtained Russian travel documents more than a year ago, including passports for themselves, their partners and their children.

Intelligence reports from the UAE suggested that they were set to leave for Russia recently, only to back out at the eleventh hour.

'Their plans were at an advanced stage and they were packed and ready to go. The (UAE) authorities were hoping that they would leave, but for unknown reasons, they changed their minds at the very last minute', a source said.

'The only explanation was that Christy, who would have negotiated the departure, became concerned that the progress of the war could cause them problems down the road.

'It means that they have nowhere to run. They must be regretting the decision now that they are spending their days worrying about Iranian missiles falling on them.'

One expat security source in the UAE believes the government is already starting to change their position on hosting the Kinahans.

'The missile and drone strikes have strengthened the view here that they need the US more than they need Iran,' said the source.

'So the Kinahans, given their links to Hezbollah... are starting to become an embarrassment to the UAE - and this place is all about image.

'Their days are numbered, I'm convinced of it.'

Daniel Kinahan issued a statement in 2021 denying he was a criminal.

'I am not a part of a criminal gang or any conspiracy. I have no convictions,' he said. 'I have dedicated myself to my work in boxing for more than 15 years. I am proud to say today that I have helped organise over a dozen major world title fights.

'I continue to be involved in planning multiple record-breaking and exciting world title fights.'

He added his success in the world of boxing 'has led to an increase in the campaign against me'.