North: Agency recovers £750,000 of drug dealer's assets

The family of a murdered drug dealer has agreed to pay back £750,000 (€1m) of his ill-gotten gains, it was revealed today.

The widow and mother-in-law of 40-year-old Patrick Fleming, who was stabbed to death at party in Coleraine two years ago, are to hand over assets that include a five bedroom house, 35 acres of land, cash and a number of valuable paintings.

Mr Fleming, of Macosquin, Coleraine, was already under investigation by the North's Assets Recovery Agency at the time of his murder in May 2006.

A number of individuals are awaiting trial in connection with the killing.

The agency had alleged the majority of Fleming’s wealth was derived from drug dealing.

A Consent Order to recover his assets was granted by the High Court in Belfast today following an agreement between the ARA and his widow Penny Jane Fleming and mother-in-law Valerie Hook.

The assets to be handed over include:

:: A substantial dwelling house at 11 Ballinrees Lane, Macosquin, Coleraine including outbuildings, stables, garages and gardens and an equestrian track;

:: Twenty-five acres of land adjoining that house;

:: A further 10 acres of land in Ballinrees Lane;

:: £36,000 (€48,500) in cash seized at the time of the initial searches;

:: Six framed watercolour pictures by Sam Maclaren; and

:: Two small framed oil paintings by D Doole.

As part of the terms of the agreed settlement with the agency Mrs Fleming and Mrs Hook retain a former Housing Executive flat at Burnside Park, Coleraine, some miscellaneous livestock and chattels representing less than 10% of the recoverable assets.

ARA deputy director Charlie Dickin said: “This is another excellent result and further demonstrates the agency’s commitment to ensuring that crime doesn’t pay.

“This brings the total value of assets recovered by the agency in Northern Ireland through its effective and robust settlement policy to almost £5m (€6.7m) in the last four weeks. These assets will now be realised and the money recycled into the fight against crime.

“The forthright co-operation of both Mrs Fleming and Mrs Hook has resulted in the earlier recovery of the assets in this case. Cases that are settled in this way are often in the interests of the defendant and their family, as well as in the public interest.

“The minimum we will recover from this settlement is £750,000 (€1m) and arrangements are already in hand to sell this substantial five bedroom property and land.”