Antrim car dealer's assets seized

The authorities in the North have seized around £750,000 (€1m) worth of assets from a second-hand car dealer suspected of fraud and tax evasion.

The High Court in Belfast today gave the Assets Recovery Agency permission to seize property, cars and bank accounts belonging to Gerard John Mulligan of Berkley Hall in Lisburn, Co Antrim.

Mr court heard that Mr Mulligan had a significant criminal record and the assets were believed to be the proceeds of fraud, tax evasion and false accounting.

The items seized include two properties in Lisburn, a Porsche Boxster car, more than 30 vehicles belonging to Mr Mulligan's car dealership and a range of bank and building society accounts.

The agency said it was confident at this stage that a minimum of £350,000 (€508,000) net could be recovered once all loans had been discharged.

An investigation into all of Mulligan’s assets was also continuing, it said. The receiver is expected to report back to the High Court soon.

The ARA’s deputy director, Alan McQuillan, revealed the case was referred to his organisation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

“The Assets Recovery Agency continues to take robust action in a range of cases involving many types of criminality,” he said.

“The message is going out loud and clear that we are here to make sure that crime does not pay.”