Poker player to learn fate of €36k seized by gardaí

A professional Limerick poker player will today learn the destiny of a big hand he will be dealt by a judge.

Gardaí seized €36,000 belonging to Paul Carr, aged 33, of Vartry Ave, Raheen, claiming the money was the proceeds of crime.

Judge Tom O’Donnell will give a decision at Limerick Circuit Court on an application by the DPP, who wants the money seized in May 2011 forfeited to the State.

Mr Carr claims the money is part of a €312,000 pot, which it is accepted he won in Apr 2010 as second prize at the Paddy Power no limit Texas hold’em poker open tournament.

John O’Sullivan, for the DPP, told Judge O’Donnell that, as well as the €36,000, a further application may be made to forfeit to the State cash totalling €244,330, seized from Mr Carr in Aug 2011. The cash was found in a car driven by an associate of Mr Carr after it was stopped and searched in the city. The money was in a Dunnes Stores plastic bag.

The €36,000, the subject of the current hearing, was seized when gardaí raided a house in Caherdavin in May 2011. The house was occupied by the girlfriend of a friend of Mr Carr. The search was carried out under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Mr O’Sullivan submitted that the €36,000 was the result of crime and the level of proof necessary was that the money was “probably” the proceeds of crime.

Michael Collins, for Mr Carr, applied to have the €36,000 returned to his client, saying there was evidence that the money was part of his €312,000 winnings in Apr 2010.

He gave details of various large amounts lodged and withdrawn from a bank account held by Mr Carr.

Mr Carr, he said, had one previous conviction for a drugs offence. “He is not depicted as a serious criminal,” said Mr Collins. “There is no evidence that he has serious criminal involvement in running a gang or enterprise or operation, and there is no link between these monies and any particular crime. It was his system to ask people to hold sums of cash for him.”

He claimed the DPP was trying to make a case of guilt by association.

Judge O’Donnell said there was a clear conflict regarding evidence given in affidavits by both sides and would give his judgment this morning on the forfeiture of the €36,000.