Further £437,000 seized in money-laundering investigation

Gardaí in Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Offaly have reportedly seized a further £437,000 (€634,000) as part of their investigation into suspected IRA money-laundering.

Reports this morning said the Criminal Assets Bureau seized £250,000 (€363,000) from a man in his 20s in the Tullamore area of Co Offaly yesterday, while another £67,000 (€97,000) was seized from a middle-aged man in Dublin.

The reports said the CAB also seized £120,000 from a businessman in the Millstreet area of north Cork and £20,000 (€29,000) from another businessman in the Rathmore area of east Kerry.

The latest seizures follow the recovery of more than €4m in sterling and euro bank notes in Dublin and Cork last week.

It is still unclear if any of the money came from the £26.5m (€38m) Belfast bank heist, but Defence Minister Willie O'Dea said last night that he believed forensic tests would prove a link to the pre-Christmas robbery.