Murphy’s assets frozen

Following the raids at the start of the month in Monaghan and Armagh, RTÉ reports that the High Court has granted orders freezing the assets seized in the searches, the estimate value of the property and cash is €900,000 and the court has appointed the legal officer of the CAB as receiver. From RTÉ – “The orders were made against Thomas Murphy, his brothers Francis and Patrick, and ACE Oils, which CAB says is a consortium owned and controlled by the Murphy group. CAB officers served the High Court documents at the Murphy addresses this morning.” Whether Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams will be revising his opinion of Thomas Murphy is currently unknown.. Although it’s worth pointing out that no charges have emerged yet. Update It’s not included in the RTÉ report but UTV claim Thomas Murphy’s house is covered by the court orders More over the foldThe BBC report restricts the court orders to cash and cheques seized during the searches, but values them at over €1million –

The order was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act against Mr Murphy, his brothers Patrick and Francis and Ace Oils Ltd.

The company has a registered office at Ballybinaby, Hackballscross in County Louth.

And has more details on the properties searched, and the Crimnal Assets Bureau investigation –

The head of the Criminal Assets Bureau, Detective Chief Superintendent Felix McKenna, said in documents supplied to the court that the cash and cheques were found in black plastic bags in a cattle shed owned by Patrick Murphy adjacent to his residence.

Access to the shed was through a gate on a road on the Northern Ireland side of the border which opened out on to a farm complex owned by the Murphys, the court heard.

Access from the southern side of the border was through a field registered in the name of Patrick Murphy’s wife, Rosemary, the judge was told.

Detective Chief Supt McKenna said in the documents that the CAB had been investigating the Murphys “for some considerable time”, and that Tom, Frank and Patrick Murphy had for the past 20 years been involved in the oil distribution industry and oil smuggling and money laundering activities.