Almost £250,000 belonging to drug-trafficking members of the Felloni family is now in the hands of the State, following an order by the High Court yesterday confiscating monies from Regina Felloni.
Mr Frank Cassidy, acting as a solicitor with the Chief State Solicitor's office on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, was appointed receiver over Felloni's monies, which were found in bank, building society and post office accounts, together with sums in cash.
Three members of the family, including Regina (20), are serving jail sentences for drugs-related offences. Her father, Anthony, is serving a 20-year sentence, her brother, Luigi, is serving six years, and Regina received a sentence of six years and nine months.
Yesterday, Mr Justice O'Higgins made orders that Mr Cassidy be made receiver over all monies in Ireland in the name of Regina Felloni, and that the monies be invested pending further orders of the court. The total amount confiscated from Felloni is about £140,000.
He also gave permission for the sale of a house in Felloni's name at Mellowes Road, Finglas, together with the sale of her car.
An auctioneer's valuation of the premises was given to Mr Justice O'Higgins. The valuation was not disclosed but was shown to Felloni, who accepted it.
The judge agreed that Dublin Corporation could seek £8,845 from the monies once they were lodged in court. The corporation claim relates to legal costs awarded against Felloni after she lost an injuries action against the corporation.
It is understood the court will be asked at a later date to make an order that the monies be handed over to Central Funds.
An earlier court hearing was told that Felloni also had another £69,000 sterling in bank accounts in Belfast and Britain.
Yesterday's hearing follows a four-year investigation by gardai.