[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]A Clondalkin couple has agreed to vacate a property which the Criminal Assets Bureau claims was acquired with the proceeds of crime.
Kenneth Carpenter and Elaine Byrne gave an undertaking before Ms Justice Carmel Stewart at the High Court to leave the property where they reside at Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, by July.
CAB, which has various freezing orders against the couple, alleges Mr Carpenter is active in the sale and supply of drugs, has a number of previous convictions for drugs offences and associates with known criminals in South and West Dublin.
After the couple gave a sworn undertaking to vacate the property the Judge made orders in respect of the house under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceedings of Crime Act.
CAB claims the couple have enjoyed an affluent lifestyle and spent lavishly despite the fact there is no credible explanation for the source of their funds.
The sums of money spent by them do not correlate with their known income, CAB also claims.
CAB had sought an order from the High Court under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act deeming the house, which was purchased for €317,000 in 2007 as being acquired with the proceeds of crime.
CAB claims Mr Carpenter submitted false information to obtain a mortgage for the property.
He described himself as being a salesperson with a motor car company earning some €75,000 per year. CAB said Mr Carpenter did not work for that firm.
CAB claims the house at Rowlagh Park is worth some €220,000 but that €284,500 remains due and owing on it.
CAB claims that mortgage payments made on the property by Mr Carpenter came from the proceeds of his criminal conduct.
Mr Carpenter had claimed to Gardai to have worked various jobs including truck driver and a plumber, as a courier and more recently had sold items online.
The court heard that CAB officers seized a number of items from the house following a search in May 2017.
During the search, Gardai discovered and seized quantities of cash some €20,000 and a bulletproof vest.
When asked about where the cash came from Mr Carpenter allegedly told the Gardai that the money was his and he was saving it up for a holiday and was considering giving some of it to charity.
Other items including luxury Rolex, Breitling and Hublot watches, a Chanel handbag estimated to be worth more than €70,000 were also discovered and seized by the Gardai.
The court heard the couple had travelled extensively in recent years.
CAB claims that since 2010 the couple has spent some €20,000 on flights alone, to various destinations including the UK, various European destinations and several trips to various destinations in the United States, where they went on a cruise, Mexico and Dubai.
It is claimed that in 2016 and 2017 Ms Byrne purchased thousands of euros worth of high-end designer goods and had a platinum loyalty card in Brown Thomas despite claiming that her only source of income was her lone parent’s allowance.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
