Businessmen protest innocence after IRA assets raid

Two men whose business was raided by police investigating a UK crime empire linked to alleged IRA godfather Thomas “Slab” Murphy, will protest their innocence today.

The homes and offices of Dermot Craven and Brian Pepper were raided by police in Manchester last week following an investigation by the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA).

They are probing £30m (€43.6m) worth of property in Manchester allegedly owned by the IRA, which it is thought may have bought up to 250 homes in the area, funded by crime.

It is part of a financial investigation by anti-racketeers linking the houses to Slab Murphy, the IRA's alleged chief of staff.

Riot police raided the home of Mr Craven, in Bowden, Cheshire, and the head office of The Craven Group in Sale, Greater Manchester last Thursday.

Investigators took documents from the office Mr Craven shares with his business partner Mr Pepper, who are both directors of the property company.

But today both men will protest their innocence and insist their firm has nothing to do with Murphy or the IRA.

Michael Kenyon, the men’s solicitor, said Mr Craven would hold a press conference in Manchester in an attempt to clear his name.

Mr Kenyon also said the ARA had “poor record” in recovering the assets of criminals and Monday’s raids was in reality a sham to show the government is doing something about organised crime.

“The purpose of the press conference is to show that they are innocent men,” Mr Kenyon said.

“It is business as usual. They want to show tenants, customers and staff they are still in business and what has happened is the ARA have deliberately manipulated the press to give the wrong impression. Why brief the press and have them turn up outside a private address?”

“They have been quite unfairly singled out, and that is why they are coming out to say they are innocent.

“Why the need to turn up with 30 police officers, with Tactical Aid Group officers? To show this was all very exciting and IRA, when all they did was sit around drinking tea, but it served their purpose.

“As a result of all this some innocent people and members of staff have been made very worried. Remember, this is a civil inquiry and my clients, potential witnesses for the crown.”

The press conference will be held in central Manchester, later today.