THE CRIMINAL Assets Bureau has confiscated €400,000 in cash, two houses and two high-performance cars in three separate actions against criminals.
The court heard the best-known of the three, Michael “Roly” Cronin, had been shot dead since the bureau’s latest action against him began.
Mr Justice Kevin Feeney heard Cronin was a major player in organised crime in Dublin. he was jailed in 1998 for heroin dealing. On his release in 2003, despite the major Cab inquiry into his assets, he re-established himself in the drugs trade. In 2005 he bought a house at Hampton Wood Green, St Margaret’s Road, Dublin, with his partner Janice Whelan.
Following his murder in 2009, Cab began reinvestigating his assets. It was granted an order yesterday by the High Court allowing the sale of that property and transfer of the proceeds into State coffers. Cronin’s assets were identified despite his efforts to launder his money through a legitimate business of which he claimed he was an employee.
In another case before Mr Justice Feeney yesterday, just over €400,000 in cash was seized from James Murphy jnr (39), Drumfinn Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin.
The money was found when gardaí examined a house in Clondalkin in April 2009 following a report of a robbery attempt. It is believed the raiders knew the money was in the house but were unable to find it.
In the third case, a house and two cars were confiscated from Michael Kelly (29), Swans Nest Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin, after the High Court ruled the assets represented the proceeds of crime.
The house, at Boyne View, Navan, Co Meath, and cars will be sold and the proceeds transferred to State coffers.
