Property raids could hit peace process
Anti-racketeer police squads yesterday searched 250 British homes and businesses as part of a financial probe linked to Tom “Slab” Murphy, the Provisionals’ alleged chief of staff.
Mr Murphy has a farm at Hackballscross on the border and has been under investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).
In tandem with the English police operation, CAB conducted a number of raids yesterday, recovering conveyancing files.
CAB officers, supported by local units, carried out seven searches of offices in the Co Louth area. No arrests were made and the operation is ongoing.
Senior gardaí yesterday described the co-operation in the raids as an “extension” between the CAB and the British Assets Recovery Agency (ARA). Gardaí said the Manchester investigation dated back four years.
The majority of the Manchester property was mortgaged but yielded a substantial rental income for the two Manchester-based businessmen at the centre of the investigation, including Dermot Craven, a landlord and scaffolding firm boss.
Danny Kennedy, deputy leader of the Ulster Unionists, said: “If, after investigation by the ARA, the properties turn out to be linked to the IRA this will have very serious consequences for the political process in Northern Ireland.”
Justice Minister Michael McDowell said that the ARA and the Criminal Assets Bureau would ensure that those who have derived funds from crime would not enjoy the assets.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has criticised the timing of the operation, saying the announcement had been politically motivated to coincide with yesterday’s talks at Downing Street.
“Today’s meeting was a crucially important one, which provided an opportunity to review recent developments and to discuss how progress can be made. The main focus of our discussion was on the political institutions and the need for them to be re-established speedily,” Mr Adams said.
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