SOCA searches in south Armagh and freezes assets
The BBC reports a developing story worth noting
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has frozen the assets of a leading republican in South Armagh. It has been granted a court order to take control of properties and bank accounts belonging to Sean Gerard Hughes of Aghadavoyle Road, Drumintee. The agency claimed the assets came from laundering the proceeds of mortgage fraud, tax evasion and benefit fraud. In 2002, Mr Hughes was named in parliament as a member of the IRA’s Army Council, an allegation he denied. The assets frozen include eight houses in south Armagh, an apartment in south Belfast, the proceeds of the sale of three other houses in south Armagh, and a number of bank accounts. The agency has also taken control of assets belonging to 10 other people in the south Armagh area, including six members of the extended Hughes family, among them Mr Hughes’ wife Annette.
Sean Gerard Hughes was also named in parliament by Lord Laird in connection with the murder of Paul Quinn. Adds The updated BBC report now includes this comment
On Tuesday, Sinn Fein MP for Newry and Armagh Conor Murphy criticised the operation. Mr Murphy said: “The raids today on Sean’s home and those of a number of his relatives have caused deep anger in South Armagh. “There is no justification for the deliberate targeting of Sean and his family today.”
More from the NI Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, MP, MLA ““Sean Hughes is a sound Republican”.
Certainly a well off businessman and by sounds of it a well off family. Obviously capitalists!
But working for a 32 county socialist republic of course!
At the rate he was acquiring land and property he could have ended up buying the whole North and South and united Ireland through ownership right(s).
The updated BBC report now includes this comment
Man of the people, alright! On an ironic note the word that I am being asked to submit in order to post is ‘property’.
“Eight years ago Mr Hughes was convicted of fraudulently claiming income support and fined £1500 after pleading guilty to two charges.”
Which according to the applicable regulations further constitutes er money laundering
Which should also apply to all those lovely expenses claimed by MP’s.
(But then of course that wasn’t fraud)
“Sean has been charged with nothing. Neither have any members of his family. It is unacceptable”
http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/17715
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8352332.stm
“The agency claimed the assets came from laundering the proceeds of mortgage fraud, tax evasion and benefit fraud..Eight years ago Mr Hughes was convicted of fraudulently claiming income support and fined £1500 after pleading guilty to two charges.”
eight houses 1 flat various bank accs not a bit of wonder there are dissedents dan breen springs to mind my fight for irish freedom constable murphy has some cheek condemming these raids by HIS police force
“Sean Hughes is a sound Republican” pretty much in the same way as Sir Fred Goodwin is a sound banker.
The Brits and their Sinn Fein stooges just can’t get over the fact they got their asses/arses whipped in South Armagh. Vengeance is mine saith the mealy mouthed occupiers.
So what did happen with Sean Hughes?
More important what happened to PSF? Have they any genuine entrepreneurs at all in their ranks? Will PSF solve Ireland’s problems by smuggling, selling cigarettes and laundering the money in Bulgaria?