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CAB wants Roscommon helicopter owner jailed

THE owner of luxury cars and a helicopter identified as proceeds of crime faces being jailed for contempt of court after failing to pay cash to the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB).

In the High Court yesterday, CAB was granted orders to commit Roger O'Grady to prison for failure to lodge €30,000 proceeds from the sale of a BMW car to a CAB account.

Benedict O Floinn, for the CAB, said the bureau had previously obtained a number of freezing orders on assets belonging to Mr O'Grady which CAB believed were the proceeds of crime.

The assets include a white BMW 520 car, a red Ferrari F355, a Robinson R22 helicopter, an Audi A4 and a sum of cash. The judge heard that CAB's legal officer, Declan O'Reilly, had been appointed receiver in respect of the assets.

In July he promised that €30,000 obtained from the sale of the BMW and £25,000 (€31,781) from the sale of the Ferrari in the North would be lodged to a bank nominated by the receiver.

The money was to be lodged within days, but this had not been done.

CAB had recovered possession of the Ferrari in Northern Ireland, and the keys of that car had been posted by Mr O'Grady to the bureau.

But the sum of €30,000 in respect of the BMW had still not been paid.

Mr O Floinn said that as a result of Mr O'Grady's failure to make that payment he was in contempt of court.

CAB was therefore seeking an order for his attachment and committal to prison.

Mr Justice Kevin Feeney said Mr O'Grady had "clearly failed" to comply with the undertakings he had made.

No explanation for this failure had been given.

Mr O'Grady (29), of Ballinphuill, Tibuhine, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, and Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, was not in court yesterday and is believed to be outside of the jurisdiction.

Counsel said that in regards to the other assets, Mr O'Grady had contacted CAB and told them the helicopter could be collected from the roadside along the Lissnaskea to Derrylin Road in Co Fermanagh. The Bureau had no details about the Audi A4.

Martin Giblin, counsel for Mr O'Grady, said he had no instructions from his client at this time and was unable to assist the court in relation to the CAB application.

The judge said he would allow Mr Giblin and his instructing solicitors to bring a motion to stop working for Mr O'Grady.

The judge also adjourned the case to a date later this month.

Irish Independent