Sex, lies and covert tapes keep courtroom captivated

OPERATION Boulder saw raids on two brothels, businesses, private houses and solicitors’ offices in Cork city on November 20, 2006.

It was a multi-agency investigation in which Gardaí gathered evidence to prosecute individuals while the Criminal Assets Bureau followed the money.

As the officers drove past the twin pillars with eagle figures and up the drive to the home of ‘the boss’ — Tony Linnane — at Scartbarry, Watergrasshill, Co Cork, his partner, Caroline O’Leary, was driving out in a new ’06-registered Mercedes. Linnane drove out behind her in a van and a second man followed in another van.