Court hears libel plaintiff made CAB fraud settlement

A CRIMINAL ASSETS BUREAU (CAB) officer told the High Court yesterday that a €100,000 settlement made with a man who is suing a newspaper for libel over an article calling him a drug king arose as authorities believed he was involved in drug trafficking and benefit fraud.

The officer said Martin McDonagh made a “global” settlement with the CAB after it had taken a High Court case under proceeds of crime legislation freezing his assets including a shop he owned in Sligo.

The proceedings also related to him claiming the dole while working and failure to make tax returns between 1998 and 2000.