The BBC reports that the Republic of Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau has “succeeded in confiscating more than 635,000 euros from alleged former IRA leader Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy and others.” And from the RTÉ report
In March 2006 CAB, local gardaí, customs officers and detectives from the fraud bureau and the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation raided his home and business premises at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross in Co Louth. It was also the address of Ace Oils Ltd and CAB officers subsequently told the High Court that Thomas Murphy and his brothers Frank and Patrick had been involved in oil smuggling and money laundering for 20 years.
They also removed cash and cheques in black plastic bags. Today the High Court granted them an order confiscating over 635,000. Mr Justice Frank Clarke said he was satisfied the money was the proceeds of crime and the total, made up of 435,000 and stg£150,000, will be handed over to the Exchequer. Thomas Murphy is still before the courts on charges facing tax offence charges. His brothers, Patrick and Frank, have reached tax settlements with the Criminal Assets Bureau for a figure understood to be over 1m.
No more news yet on those other charges.. And, according to the iol report, “The High Court this morning heard that the 59-year-old from Ballybinaby in Hackballscross and his brothers Francis and Patrick had agreed not to fight [the] seizure.” Does Gerry Adams still think he’s “not a criminal” but a “good republican”? Adds From the updated iol report
More than 625,000 in cash and cheques have been confiscated in the South while £445,000 (573,000 euro) and nine properties in the north-west of England were recovered by UK authorities. A garda spokesman said the settlement was the culmination of a global crime and fraud investigation into the proceeds of crime.
“Todays proceedings are the culmination of intensive investigations by the Criminal Assets Bureau and the UKs Serious and Organised Crime Agency,” gardai said. “Both agencies have co-operated extensively, working in partnership to achieve todays outcome.” The Irish leg of the investigation was settled in Dublins High Court today while the UKs seizure was finalised in a Manchester court yesterday.