A FATHER and son were yesterday prevented by High Court order from removing or disposing of £640,000 held in bank accounts in Austria and the Isle of Man which the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) believes to be the proceeds of crime, particularly drug trafficking.
The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Costello, who made the order under the Proceeds of Crime Act, adjourned the hearing of the action until June 9th next to allow the defendants, Mr Brian Meehan and Mr Kevin Meehan, of Stanaway Road, Crumlin, Dublin, to be legally represented.
Mr Peter Charleton SC, for the CAB, told the court that while Mr Kevin Meehan was in court for the hearing, the whereabouts of his son, Mr Brian Meehan, were not known. Mr Charleton said the vast bulk of the money was held in Austria, although some was also held in the Isle of Man.
An officer of the Criminal Assets Bureau, in an affidavit, said his information corroborated his belief that Mr Brian Meehan was a prominent member of a criminal gang involved in the importation and distribution of cannabis resin in Ireland from 1994 to 1996 and was also involved with the gang in money laundering the proceeds of that drug trafficking.
He claimed that both the father and son had gone to considerable lengths to disguise the whereabouts of the property.
Mr Justice Costello asked Mr Kevin Meehan if he had any objection to the hearing being in public, as he was entitled to have it held in camera. Mr Meehan said he had no objection. He also told the judge that he would be able to get legal representation.
Mr Justice Costello said he would continue the interim order originally made by Mr Justice Flood on April 25th last and adjourned the case until June 9th.
Mr Kevin Meehan told the judge he would not be able to send a copy of the documents served on him to his son.