House and farmland in Clare seized by CAB from Limerick gang member

The Criminal Assets Bureau has seized two properties in counties Laois and Clare, including a house and farmland belonging to a member of a Limerick organised crime gang.

CAB took possession of a farmhouse, stables and 18.5 acres from William McInerney, who they allege is a member of the McCarthy/Ryan criminal gang in Limerick.

In a statement, the agency said that "in pursuit of its statutory remit, CAB conducted an investigation into an Organised Criminal Gang in the south west of the country, incorporating William McInerney of Kealderra, Bodyke, Co. Clare".

They provided evidence that Mr McInerney used €223,500 in cash "to fund the purchase of the property in 2012, the source of which were identified as the proceeds of criminal conduct of William McInerney through his activity and association with an Organised Criminal Gang."

The property, comprising of a house, "livery yard incorporating 20 stables" and 18.35 acres of land in Bodyke, also includes a track built on the land for organised illegal sulky races, which CAB says were then used by criminals to launder money through gambling and horse sales.

They also said that a complex money laundering scheme utilising various bank accounts and mediums in Ireland and Spain was "identified and dismantled" during the course of this investigation.

CAB also took possession of a house in Portlaoise following an investigation into Mary Cash of 7 Harpurs Lane, Portlaoise.

Arising from that investigation, an application was made to the High Court, under the Proceeds of Crime Acts, 1996 targeting various assets in the possession and control of Mary Cash.

“In the context of those proceedings, the Bureau provided evidence that Mary Cash funded the purchase of the subject assets through the proceeds of Money Laundering and Burglaries,” they said in a statement.

According to the agency, Ms Cash is the wife of Andy Cash, a member of a travelling burglary gang which carried out robberies across the country, anf that she had acted as a driver for her husband. 

Along with the house in Portlaoise, CAB also seized a Volkswagen Golf, a gold Cartier watch, a gold Chanel watch, four Chanel handbags, a Chanel wallet, 14-carat gold bracelet, necklace and white gold bracelet, €9,700, £21,850 sterling and 4,673 Qatari Riyal worth €1,150.