McDowell determined to find IRA’s estimated €200m assets

THE IRA is estimated to have about €200 million invested in properties and assets both here and abroad.

A concerted effort is now under way to target these assets, which are the proceeds of a range of crimes, including robberies, counterfeiting and smuggling.

Commenting on the raids in Manchester and in the Republic yesterday, Justice Minister Michael McDowell said: “I’m always very glad to see that the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) and the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), which work so closely together, active on the ground seeking to investigate the whereabouts of the proceeds of crime.”