Friend of Christy Kinahan used proceeds of crime to pay for daughters' Swiss boarding school, High Court hears
Kinahan protégé Ciaran 'Sam' O'Sullivan used criminal cash to send his daughters to a Swiss finishing school for girls, the High Court has heard.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Assets linked to alleged Kinahan associate deemed proceeds of crime by High Court
Assets belonging to an alleged Kinahan organised crime group associate who once resided in an affluent South Dublin suburb have been deemed by the High Court to be the proceeds of crime. The Criminal Assets Bureau claim Ciaran O'Sullivan, aged 50, who previously resided on Adelaide Road in Glenageary, is known to multiple law enforcement agencies as a transnational drug trafficker for over 20 years, and has lived a lavish lifestyle despite having no legitimate source of income. The bureau cites Mr O'Sullivan's daughters' attendance at an exclusive Swiss finishing school, Surval Montreux, as an indicator of this lifestyle. Assets On Wednesday, barrister Jim Benson, for the bureau, sought orders related to assets linked to Mr O'Sullivan, which were seized during searches of properties connected to him in June 2020. Among the assets seized were various devices recovered at his Glenageary address, including iPhones, Google Pixel phones and Samsung tablets. It is the bureau's case that Mr O'Sullivan was involved in the supply of EncroChat devices, and that these devices were held by Mr O'Sullivan to this end. EncroChat is a now-defunct encrypted messaging service favoured by those involved in organised crime. Other items seized included luxury watches, a Louis Vuitton briefcase, €3,060 cash and a gold bullion coin. Mr Justice Alexander Owens said he was satisfied these assets were the proceeds of crime, granting the orders sought by the bureau under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996. The judge refused to make the order sought in relation to €16,350 held in a bank account held under Mr O'Sullivan's aunt's name. The court heard evidence that this account was used to pay for Mr O'Sullivan's daughter's Swiss school fees. Mr Justice Owens said the net effect of granting orders sought relating to the bank account would be to take money from the pension of an elderly woman, and that this would be 'unfair'. Crime group connections In making his orders, Mr Justice Owens noted evidence submitted on Mr O'Sullivan's connections to a Chinese money laundering gang, who have provided services to the Kinahan organised crime group. In the 2000s, Mr O'Sullivan was targeted and arrested in joint Irish and Dutch police operations focusing on the activities of the Kinahan organised crime group, the bureau allege. Mr O'Sullivan has not lived in Ireland for some time, the court heard. He has no criminal convictions in Ireland, but was convicted of two separate drug-related offences in Spain and the Netherlands.
Sunday World
6 hours ago
- Sunday World
Sale agreed: See inside stunning mansion at centre of armed stand-off
Elegant property was listed at half the €5.5m sale price reported in 2005 Dromin House, which is set on 10.9 acres of land in Delgany, Co Wicklow, was advertised with a guide price of €2.45m – less than half the reported €5.5m it was sold to businessman Brian McDonagh for in 2005. Lisney Sotheby's International Realty, the estate agent handling the sale of the property, had opened an online bidding platform for interested buyers. Last week, Lisney posted an advert for the house on Instagram, describing Dromin House as 'an elegant country residence set on over 10 acres of secluded, landscaped grounds with panoramic views of the Wicklow Mountains'. However, all online listings for the property have now been removed. Sitting room in the luxurious Dromin house A source with knowledge of the deal said a sale is due to close within the next couple of weeks. Last February 24, Mr McDonagh was involved in a stand-off with a sheriff and armed gardaí during the repossession of the property by Blackwater Asset Management. He was subsequently charged with producing a shotgun likely to unlawfully intimidate another person during a dispute at Dromin House. He was further charged with wilfully obstructing or interfering with an officer of the court on the same date. Following the incident, Mr McDonagh's long-time partner, Yeoksee Ooi, issued High Court proceedings against the Attorney General, the court services of county Wicklow, Promontoria Scariff Designated Activity Company, Blackwater Asset Management and the county registrar of Wicklow. In her statement of claim, Ms Ooi sought an order permitting the re-entry of her and her family into Dromin House and damages for 'unlawful entry, acts of trespass, misrepresentation and violation' of her constitutional rights. Dromin House in Co Wicklow. The property boasts more than 10 acres of land News in 90 Seconds - June 26th She is arguing that the warrant issued for the repossession was in breach of article 40.5 of the Constitution, which relates to the inviolability of the home. It is understood the claims are denied. The matter is listed for hearing tomorrow. Mr McDonagh had been given 18 months to find alternative accommodation A possession order for Dromin House was granted at Bray Circuit Court on January 18, 2023. Mr McDonagh had been given 18 months to find alternative accommodation. Instead, he chose to fight the civil possession bill and appealed the decision. Ms Ooi brought a separate case challenging the constitutionality of the possession order. The High Court previously heard how Ms Ooi, who has three children with Mr McDonagh, was not a named party on the 2005 mortgage or 2007 remortgage and had no legal interest in the property. After their efforts were unsuccessful and the appeal was dismissed, the go-ahead was granted to enforce the order. Mr McDonagh fell into significant debt after borrowing money to build a data centre on an 82-acre site in Kilpedder. The data centre never materialised and this led to decade-long litigation battles over the failure of he and his two brothers, Kenneth McDonagh and Maurice McDonagh, to repay millions of euro to Ulster Bank.
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Friend of Christy Kinahan used proceeds of crime to pay for daughters' Swiss boarding school, High Court hears
Kinahan protégé Ciaran 'Sam' O'Sullivan used criminal cash to send his daughters to a Swiss finishing school for girls, the High Court has heard.
