Documents may be linked to IRA money laundering

BRITISH police and gardaí are still examining documents seized during raids in the Manchester area, which may be connected to alleged IRA money laundering.

The investigation is focussing on two Manchester businessmen, Paul Dermot Craven and Brian Gerard Pepper, whose homes and business premises were raided as part of an investigation into 250 properties in the region worth £30 million (€43.6m) which may be owned by the IRA.

The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) in Northern Ireland is probing the assets of Thomas 'Slab' Murphy, alleged to be the IRA chief of staff. The inquiries are civil and not criminal.