Terror arrests in Ireland are third highest in Europe

by Michael Freeman

There were more arrests over terrorism offences in Ireland than almost anywhere else in the EU last year, according to a new report.

Some 62 terror suspects were taken into custody in the Republic – more than ten per cent of the European total. They included 57 people suspected of republican paramilitary activity and five in relation to Islamic militancy, Europol’s EU Terrorism and Trend Report reveals. The five Islamic terrorism arrests came after an alleged plot to murder Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who drew a controversial image of the prophet Muhammad, was uncovered in Ireland in March 2010.

Only Spain and France made more arrests in 2010, though the numbers there were far greater. France arrested 219 people and Spain 118, while in fourth place the UK figure was 45. Ireland’s figures were almost double the previous year, when only 33 suspects were taken into custody.

The main other findings of the report were:

• There were a total of 249 terrorist attacks carried out across the EU, with 40 perpetrated by terrorist groups based in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
• The Real IRA and Continuity IRA “continue to pose a threat” in the UK, and have grown in size and capability in recent years.
• Ireland has a mostly successful record for prosecuting terrorism offences, with 83 per cent of cases resulting in conviction. However, the average jail penalty of five years is below the EU average.
• The report noted that Ireland had successfully implement an EU directive on money laundering, designed to restrict financing of terrorism. 
• A total of 179 people were arrested in Europe on suspicion of Islamic terrorism. This was a 50 per cent increase on the previous year, and almost half the arrests were made over planned attacks on EU countries.
• The report warned that continued political unrest in North Africa could shake up al-Qaeda affiliates and lead to them establishing a greater presence in Europe. It also stated that most of the suspects arrested over alleged Islamic terrorism were acting alone or autonomously – meaning there is no single network or organisation which can be targeted.

Europol is the EU’s criminal intelligence agency, which works with law enforcement organisations across all member states.

Source: The Journal

N.Ireland: New powers to tackle terrorist money laundering

Beefed up powers to tackle potential international terrorist money laundering are to be extended to Northern Ireland.

New safeguards allow the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) to supervise credit unions. Minister Arlene Foster (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone admitted there was no evidence of them funding global guerilla groups.

The Counter-Terrorism Bill has almost completed its passage through Westminster, with a late amendment handing extra responsibility to her Department.

Ms Foster said: "The amendments, which were tabled at a late stage in the parliamentary progress of the Bill and confer additional functions on my Department, concern the use of financial measures in relation to international jurisdictions where money laundering, among other activities, is of concern to the government.

"They represent a strengthening of the provisions contained in the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, introduced under the Third EC Directive on Money Laundering and which already extend to Northern Ireland.

"This 'beefing-up' of the provisions is required as the current powers in the 2007 regulations do not fully address issues of international restrictions."

She didn't foresee any involvement of Iran in credit unions like Ballynafeigh in south Belfast.

Alasdair McDonnell (SDLP, South Belfast) said it was bizarre that unions should be faced with this issue.

Mitchel McLaughlin (Sinn Fein, Foyle) added that he wanted an assurance that the work of credit unions would not be hampered.

Ms Foster promised light-touch regulation.

Source: belfasttelegraph

Ireland: 'Lawyer' Gilligan accuses CAB of money-laundering

By Tim Healy
Friday January 25 2008


Self-styled lawyer John Gilligan yesterday claimed that if he had paid a €2.5m tax bill, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) would not be seeking to take over his family's properties.


And the convicted drug dealer also accused the CAB of money laundering by taxing the proceeds of crime.

Mr Gilligan is representing himself at legal proceedings being taken by the CAB to appoint a receiver to a number of properties, owned by him and his family.

On the third day of the High Court hearing yesterday, he claimed he was served with a €2.5m tax bill while in prison in England and if he had paid it, he would not be facing legal action.

He claimed to know of 25 individuals, including Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, who he believed had been told "give us a few quid and they (CAB) will go away".

He asked: "Has that happened in this country, or am I dreaming?"

The CAB is seeking to appoint its legal officer, Frank Cassidy, as a receiver to maintain and rent out properties owned by the Gilligan family.

It believes that unless a receiver is appointed the properties, including the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre at Enfield in Co Meath owned by Gilligan's wife Geraldine, could lose value or be subjected to unrecoverable damage or destruction costs because they are not insured.

It also claims that two houses in Lucan and another in Blanchardstown, owned between John and his children, Tracey and Darren, are not well-maintained and uninsured.

The court heard yesterday that Mrs Gilligan has lived in Jessbrook since 1994 and, as far as she was concerned, her husband's income came from gambling and lawful sources, and not the proceeds of crime, as the courts have already found.

She said she still lives at Jessbrook and provided receipts for heating oil for it and for a repair which was carried out to the electronic gates. She had come up against "a brick wall" in trying to get insurance for Jessbrook because the CAB had Mr Gilligan's assets frozen.

She also claims that her daughter Tracey runs a bar in Spain but her name is on the legal documents in case anything should happen to her daughter.

Mr Gilligan, who has again discharged his legal team during court proceedings, has complained he and his family were never given a hearing in the original court application to seize their property.

Appealing

They are appealing that decision to the Supreme Court and he believes these latest proceedings should not take place pending that hearing, which the CAB disputes.

Darren Gilligan, in his affidavit, said he lived at the family home, in Corduff Avenue, Blanchardstown, and rented out a house he owns with his father, at Weston Green, Lucan, for €1,300 per month.

He was unemployed and, after paying €5,000 cost of refurbishing the house, he used the remainder of the rental income to support himself and his two children, aged 5 and 11. He had been refused unemployment assistance.

Mr Cassidy, the only person to give evidence yesterday, said attempts had been made since 1997 to have a receiver appointed to properties, but he believed they had been "successfully thwarted" by the Gilligans through various legal cases.

Mr Cassidy said that in 1997 the first attempt to appoint a receiver was made by the-then chief bureau officer, Facthna Murphy. He had expressed concern about the properties after Darren Gilligan allegedly threatened to burn one out.

The case continues today.

- Tim Healy

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lawyer-gilligan-accuses-cab-of-moneylaundering-1273263.html

EU sues 4 member states for failure to implement AML law

The European Commission has decided to refer Belgium, Ireland, Spain and Sweden to the European Court of Justice over non-implementation of an anti money laundering directive.

The 2005 legislation tightens the EU anti money laundering regime currently applicable to the financial sector as well as lawyers, notaries, accountants, real estate agents and casinos. The scope of the directive is broadened also to encompass trust and company service providers as well as all providers of goods, when payments are made in cash in excess of 15,000 euros.

In addition, the directive requires the application of the anti money laundering tools to the fight against terrorist financing.

European Union member states are required to transpose the legislation by Dec. 15, 2007.

Source: Xinhua