Sinn Féin confirms its Dublin TD is chairperson of investigated charity

Sinn Fein have stated that Aengus O Snodaigh has 'engaged with the office of the Charities Regulator' and 'if required, will make himself available to assist with their inquiries'.

Sinn Féin has confirmed that its Dublin TD, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, is chairperson of a charity that was searched this week as part of a Garda money-laundering investigation.

Gardaí seized two BMWs, with an estimated combined value of €250,000, along with luxury handbags and watches, in their operation.

Mr Ó Snodaigh, who represents Dublin South-Central, has been chairperson and/or a member of the board of Liberty Recycling, a clothes recycling charity, for 25 years.

There is no suggestion that the seizures, or the investigations, involve him.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau carried out an extensive search operation over two days across three garda regions after a lengthy investigation.

The charity, which is registered with the Charities Regulator, is headquartered in Dublin, with numerous shops nationwide — including in Cork, Limerick, and Waterford.

The charity offers training and employment services to people and has a total of 80 staff — 50 full time and 30 part time.

The Irish Examiner understands that news of the searches came as a shock to people involved for a long time with the charity.

Searches carried out

A statement issued by Garda HQ said: “As part of an ongoing investigation by detectives attached to the money laundering investigation unit at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, gardaí carried out a number of searches at locations in the Dublin, eastern and southern Regions on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October.

“The investigation into a Dublin-based charitable organisation is carried out in conjunction with the office of the Charities Regulator.” 

Items seized include:

• Two BMW X5 cars with a total estimated value of €250,000;
• High-value items including Louis Vuitton bags, Rolex watches, and jewellery with a total estimated value of €40,000.

A subsequent statement issued by Sinn Féin HQ said: “Sinn Féin has become aware of an ongoing Garda investigation, which is taking place in conjunction with the office of the Charities Regulator, into a charity organisation of which deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh is a board member and chair.

“Sinn Féin fully supports any investigation. 

"Deputy Ó Snodaigh has engaged with the office of the Charities Regulator. He has not been contacted by gardaí, but if required, he will make himself available to assist with their inquiries.” 

Charity's accounts

The charity's accounts show its income rose from €1.78m in 2019 to just under €3m in both 2022 and 2023, increasing to €3.6m in 2024. 

However, its expenditure increased significantly in recent years, rising from €2.2m in 2022, to €2.5m in 2023 and to almost €3.2m in 2023. 

It reached nearly €4m in 2024, resulting in a deficit in the last two years.

The deficit in 2024 was offset by total assets of around €970,000.

Gardaí will now examine everything gathered in the searches and plan the next stages of their investigation.

• Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent