€140k in woman’s account frozen

CAB has secured orders freezing about £120,000 (€140,000) in a woman’s Irish bank account after a judge accepted “candid” evidence from her ex-husband the cash came from his criminal activities centred on theft of motor vehicles in Ireland and the UK.

The cash was lodged into the account of Melanie Mallon, née Hackett, who entered into a divorce with her husband Frederick Mallon in 1999, under a settlement of family law proceedings, the High Court heard.

Mr Justice Kevin Feeney yesterday ruled there was no evidence to show any injustice to Ms Mallon in CAB taking the money. If her separation and divorce was agreed on a false basis, that was a matter for herself and Mr Mallon, he said.