THE HIGH COURT has ruled that three houses associated with the son of slain Limerick organise crime figure Kieran Keane Sr are the proceeds of crime, as are three cars and over €100K frozen by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

Having accepted garda evidence that Kieran Keane Jnr was a “driving force” in organised crime, the High Court today appointed receivers to two of the three houses, the cars and €101,000 in an AIB account.

The property and bank account were allegedly used by the respondents Kieran Keane Jnr, who is believed to be in Dubai or Spain, and his girlfriend, Laura Flanagan, with an address in Garryowen, Co Limerick.

The court found that Keane Jnr had no recognisable source of income and that Flanagan had been saving her social welfare for a period.

Keane Jr is the son of Limerick feud gangster Kieran Keane Sr, who was murdered in January 2003, and the nephew of convicted drug-dealer Christy Keane.

Mr Justice Alexander Owens said that an application for receivership over a Garryowen home occupied by Flanagan and her family would have to be brought by CAB at the next sitting. The judge said any application for a stay would be considered at that time.

Shelley Horan BL, for CAB, told the court that a forensic analysis of the bank account used by Keane Jr and Flanagan revealed trips to Lithuania for cosmetic surgery, travel to Spain, the UK, Dubai and also to Lapland within the period of 2010 to 2019.

At the High Court today, Mr Justice Owens found that three Limerick properties that Keane enjoyed the benefit of but had no title on, were the proceeds of crime.

Horan had told the judge that “absolutely nothing is offered for the source of funds for the seven assets subject to this case”.

Refurbishment costs

Horan said a financial analyst at CAB estimated that one of the three Limerick properties had undergone approximately €289,000 in refurbishments which could not be accounted for.

Mr Justice Owens ruled that three cars, an Audi A4 – since sold by CAB – a Skoda Octavia and a VW Amarok were also the proceeds of crime and had been used by Keane Jr.

Mr Justice Owens said that, regarding the AIB account, it appeared that they were “living on fresh air” due to a lack of bank records for everyday regular expenditure.

The judge said that if Keane was in Dubai for a number of years then he must have money to pay his bills there because otherwise the respondent would be in jail.

The judge said he would take into consideration that it would be “clearly disruptive” to remove Flanagan and her family from their home in Garryowen.

Mr Justice Owens said that Keane Jr had lived outside of the jurisdiction for a number of years without any apparent present intention to return, but he “envisaged” Keane Jr would do so in the future as his partner and children are living here.

The judge said he was satisfied from a “comprehensive” investigation by CAB that all three Garryowen properties were “derived from the proceeds of crime” acquired in “cash under the table deals”.

The judge said of a separate, fourth property, not involved in the High Court proceedings and since sold by the couple that “one cannot see where the money for that came from”.

The judge said that an accounting analyst at CAB reported that property was bought as a “shell” after being burned out and that €180K was spent on renovations.

“One can see from the photos it is anything but a shell. It was totally renovated and sold off,” said the judge.

Mr Justice Owens said that it had been contended by Keane Jr that the money in the AIB account was from, among other things, the sale of motor cars from his garage but that the firm never made any tax returns.

“It is impossible to see any legitimate source for the working capital,” he said.

Mr Justice Owens said that a lifestyle analysis carried out by CAB made it “clear” that Keane Jr did not have the money to purchase the cars.

The judge said he accepted CAB officers’ belief evidence on affidavit that Keane Jr had allegedly associated with a number of known criminals and that he was an alleged “driving force” in organised crime.

“It is likely that this criminal organisation is the source of funds used for all of these properties,” said the judge.

Mr Justice Owens awarded costs solely against Keane Jr and noted that neither Keane Jr nor Flanagan were on free legal aid.