The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has announced plans for legislation to further strengthen the State’s ability to seize criminal assets.
Giving details of a Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2024, which will make significant changes to the Proceeds of Crime Act, the minister said that following Cabinet approval, she expected the Bill to be drafted and brought before the Oireachtas this year.
Noting that the Bill will strengthen the ability of the Criminal Assets Bureau to target the proceeds of crime, the Minister said: “Last year, over 600 asset profilers worked tirelessly, all over the country, in different Garda divisions, operating as the eyes and ears of CAB. Their job is to deliver first-hand knowledge of criminality in their local areas. Now, this new Bill will ensure that when, on foot of their great work, a Court determines property is the proceeds of crime, immediate action can be taken to ensure that the holder immediately loses the benefit of it. It also speeds up the process to dispose of the asset for the benefit of the State. As it stands presently, once the High Court has determined that an asset is a proceed of crime, it can take at least seven years before it may be ultimately confiscated. This proposed Bill will reduce that period to two years. We know crime has no respect for national borders which is why I am pleased that the Bill will also see improved information exchange powers between CAB and law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions. Provisions such as these send a message to those involved in organised criminality that they will not be allowed to enjoy the profits of their illegal activity, and it will show communities that we take organised crime extremely seriously”.
Between 1996 and 2022, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) denied and deprived criminals of over €210 million worth of assets, that were returned to the Exchequer. Of this latter sum, €35.5 million was under the proceeds of crime legislation.
Referring to CAB’s success, Minister McEntee noted: “The Criminal Asset Bureau (CAB) has been a vital tool in our arsenal in the fight against organised crime. It hits criminals where it hurts; in their pockets by targeting the ill-gotten gains through criminal conduct. This Bill will support CAB further in its important work. That is why I am pleased to be able to publish it and as I do, I would like to take this opportunity to again acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Chief Bureau Officer Mr Mick Gubbins and all of the staff and agencies involved in CAB.”
The Minister also highlighted the work her Department has also made in reinvesting the proceeds of crime, in tandem with the work of CAB.
In 2021 the government established the Community Safety Innovation Fund, which reinvests proceeds of crime, returned to the Exchequer by CAB, back into communities to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities.
Under Budget 2024, €7.9m will be allocated towards community safety initiatives, including €3.75m for the Community Safety Innovation Fund, which is an increase of almost €1 million on last year.
Minister McEntee said: “Putting this money back into the community is a really tangible way of showing that there can be a direct link between the activities of law enforcement and improved feelings of community safety. It is vital that we empower our communities to proactively address safety concerns and in the process, build stronger, safer communities and I’ve said consistently that the people who are best placed to know and respond to local safety issues are communities themselves. This fund reflects the continued successes of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau seizing the ill-gotten gains of criminals and I was delighted that we were able to increase the size of this fund under Budget 2024″.
Following Government approval, the General Scheme of the Bill will now be forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny, in accordance with Dáil Standing Order 173.
A Cashel, Co. Tipperary man is expected to go on trial before three presiding Judges; namely Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, Judge Ms Sarah Berkeley and Judge Ms Grainne Malone, at the Special Criminal Court, Dublin tomorrow, after he pleaded not guilty yesterday, to assisting a known criminal gang murder Mr Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan, an innocent man, who had no known involvement in any criminality.
Mr Kirwan, aged 62 years, was, sadly, shot six times resulting in his death, as he sat in his motor vehicle, at St. Ronan’s Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, just 3 days before Christmas, on December 22nd, 2016.
At the court on Monday, Mr Michael Crotty, aged 41 years, with an address at Slí Aonghusa, Aras na Rí, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to facilitating the criminal organisation, who are believed to have been involved in the murder of Mr Kirwan.
Mr Crotty is accused that between October 20th, 2016 and December 22nd, 2016, within the State and with the knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, did participate in, or contribute by activity, or by being reckless as to whether such participation or contribution could facilitate the commission by a criminal organisation or any of its members of a serious offence, to wit: the murder of Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal justice Act.
The trial, which is scheduled to last up to five weeks, is to begin at the Special Criminal Court tomorrow, Wednesday January 17th.
On Friday last, at the Special Criminal Court, a co-accused and senior Kinahan cartel member, Mr Declan Brady (aka ‘Mr Nobody) had already pleaded guilty to the same charge. Mr Brady, with an address at St. Wolstan’s Abbey, Celbridge, Co Kildare, who currently remains in custody for other offences, pleaded guilty to the single charge against him and will now also appear before the court tomorrow, when a date will be set for his sentencing.
Previously, Mr Brady had pleaded guilty, back in July 2019, to supervising an arsenal which included an assault rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition, located stashed in a Dublin business park. Following this offence he had already been sentenced to 10.5 years in prison. In 2021, the same Mr Brady had further pleaded guilty to laundering hundreds of thousands of Euros in cash; earned through proceeds of crime in 2017.
Change to age requirements opens role to 35 to 50 year olds for first time.
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has welcomed the new recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána, which opens for applications today and closes on Thursday 8 February.
Noting that recruitment into An Garda Síochána has accelerated following the forced closure of the Garda College to intakes, due to Covid-19, the Minister said: “I am very pleased to see Garda recruits once again regularly entering training at Templemore, and this competition will ensure there is a continuous pipeline of new trainees. As a government we allocated the highest ever budget of €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024. That included funding for between 800 and 1,000 new Gardaí, and I hope, and indeed expect, that there will be a strong response to this campaign. I encourage anyone who believes they can make a positive contribution as a Garda to consider putting their name forward. Policing is a career in which no two days will be the same – it can be exciting, rewarding and undoubtedly challenging, but it offers a great opportunity to have a positive impact in the community and to be a part of a modern, inclusive police service that has the respect and trust of the Irish public.”
The last Garda recruitment campaign which closed in April 2023, received approximately 5,000 applications.
Both the Government and Garda Commissioner have said they are committed to reflecting the increasing diversity in Irish Society by ensuring that all communities see themselves reflected in An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner has also put a strong focus on equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds to join An Garda Síochána through this campaign.
Noting recent changes made to the eligibility requirements and increased training allowance, Minister McEntee added: “We have significantly increased the training allowance for trainee Gardaí, to €305 per week. Given that, and the decision to increase the maximum age of recruitment from 35 to 50, I believe we are opening up policing as a career option to a new cohort of people who will bring a range of different life and career experiences to the table. Across 2023 we have seen recruitment into An Garda Síochána gain real momentum. And with unprecedented funding recently allocated for equipment and wellbeing initiatives, and recent increases in frontline supervisors, I believe those who join will be supported as they take on what I know can be a challenging job. Our Gardaí do vital work every day investigating crime, supporting victims and maintaining the security of the state. Given that my top priority is building stronger, safer communities, I want to express my gratitude to them for their outstanding dedication and commitment and I hope this competition will lead to many more joining their ranks.”
Prospective candidates can visit publicjobs.ie for more information on how to apply.
Closing Date for the competition is Thursday 8th February 2024.
A comprehensive report has now been prepared for the Department of Agriculture in which Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) – [Irish – Rásaíocht Con Éireann, latter formerly the Irish Greyhound Board], have outlined certain concerns regarding a possible breach of this 2022 existing court order, which was issued to Ms Michelle Connolly, Killard, Puckaun, Nenagh, Co Tipperary relating to her future ownership of dogs.
It was at Nenagh District Court that Ms Connolly had pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Same guilty pleas related to three dogs, (two Maltese and a Poodle named Milly, Dolce, and Adam). Judge Ms Elizabeth McGrath had forfeited the dogs to the care of the ISPCA and fined Ms Connolly a total of €2,000, plus ISPCA costs, and disqualified her from owning, keeping or breeding any dog for 10 years, (other than two Great Danes, she already held in her possession). It was following a complaint, that the ISPCA had initially visited Ms Connolly’s property, on February 2nd 2019. The findings regarding the 3 animals, latter found located in a small cage behind a trailer at her property, were described by an ISPCA Inspector as being unacceptable. Photographic evidence showed one had red raw skin, another was considered underweight with matted hair and suffering a discharge, and a third dog had no hair on its tail and a portion of its hind quarters.
Greyhound Racing Ireland have now stated that following the court order, which issued back in May 2022; the case is now a matter for the courts in the context of any possible breach of the order previously issued.
Greyhound Racing Ireland have established there were no greyhounds in the immediate care of Ms Connolly, at her home, and that all greyhounds currently registered to her were with licenced trainers. The last registered activity of greyhounds, understood to be owned by Ms Connolly in Ireland, was last March, at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, latter venue located in Bishopstown, West Co. Cork, when her greyhound ‘Paper Moon’ raced for the eighth time since her May 2022 court order. Ms Connolly is also understood to have trialled ‘Hot Throttle’ at the same track, where the majority of her greyhound activity had taken place. It was in the United Kingdom that Ms Connolly had entered into a collaboration with British champion greyhound trainer Mr Mark Wallis and her partner Mr Mike Davis in 2021.
The Greyhound Board of Great Britain is aware of Ms Connolly’s previous court conviction under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, handed out here in the Republic of Ireland and are understood to be involved in their own investigations.
Gardaí currently investigating the fatal assault of a man, which occurred on December 27th last in Co. Tipperary, have made two further arrests. The body of the polish man, aged 32 years, and named as Mr Maciej Nowak, was located at a rented house in Ballycrana, Kilross, Co. Tipperary.
We understand that two men, both aged in their 30s, were arrested on Monday evening last, in the Dublin area, as part of continuing Garda investigations
Both men are being currently detained under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda Station in County Tipperary.
Another man has already ben brought before Nenagh court, on Wednesday, January 3rd, last charged with assault causing harm to Mr Nowak.
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