The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was yesterday granted an order under the Proceeds of Crime Act allowing it put up for sale the luxury home of a man who a bureau officer said he believed to be one of the biggest drugs traffickers in Munster.
The property at Seanacloc, Tower, Blarney, Co Cork is the home of Mr Thomas Homan, the son of former Workers' Party Cork city councillor, Mr James Homan.
The luxury detached 4/5 bedroomed house, with a conservatory and fitted electronic gates, is estimated to be worth around £280,000 and is part of an exclusive development on the outskirts of Cork city.
Yesterday, the High Court appointed Mr Barry Galvin, the legal head of CAB, as receiver to the property which is expected to come on the market shortly. Mr Justice Finnegan granted Mr Thomas Homan permission to reside in the property until January 14th, 2002.
In April 2000, Det Chief Supt Felix McKenna of CAB told the High Court he believed Mr Homan was one of the biggest drugs traffickers in Munster, and that "Seanacloc" had been purchased with the proceeds of crime comprising profits from that trafficking. This view was based on statements supplied to him by other garda∅ as well as intelligence and other material, he said.
He was not prepared to reveal the names of these sources because of the threat of intimidation and personal injuries by Mr Homan and his associates, he added.
In January last, another High Court judge, Mr Justice O'Sullivan, said he accepted "Seanacloc" had been purchased with the proceeds of crime. That evidence had not been controverted.
Yesterday's decision brings to over 10 the number of properties which CAB had sold on the basis that they stem from the proceeds of crime. The properties include two public houses.