Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF regional or local criminal assets units would “dilute what CAB does”, according to the bureau chief.
Plans were outlined in the programme of government, published in 2016, to establish regional or local “mini-CAB” offices in a bid to crack down on local criminal’s benefiting from the proceeds of crime.
Detective Chief Supt. Pat Clavin, who heads up CAB, said such a move would be detrimental to the resources and capabilities of the agency.
“We are constantly in discussions with the Department about new legislation and if we spot new trends we’ll always be passing it on to our policy people,” he said in an address at the Institute for International and European Affairs.
“The Government commits to examining how communities can better engage with CAB, including the provision of information on the suspected local use of the proceeds of crime.
“The Government commits to examining how communities can better engage with CAB, including the provision of information on the suspected local use of the proceeds of crime and the potential of a smaller CAB being established to target regional or local assets.
“We as a body are against mini-CABS, or local CABs or regional CABs. We think the CAB that we have is quite a unique CAB as it is, it has 91 people, compared to 17,000 in An Garda Síochana, and 7,000 in Revenue, maybe 10,000 in social welfare.
We think it would dilute what CAB does if you try to create local or regional Cabs.
Clavin said he would continue to work closely with the department and as an alternative the agency toured the country between 2017 and 2018, briefing the joint-policing committee on local councils.
During an interview on the Claire Byrne in April, Clavin reported that some 1,075 people were being investigated by CAB. Today, he confirmed that there are 200 more people being investigated now than six months ago.
“We have a map that shows in 2016 we had about 600 personal targets throughout the state. That’s gone to 1,321 in September gone.
“Of this about half of our targets are in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), just slightly less than half, and slight more than half are outside of the GDA.
West Dublin between Finglas and Rathcoole had the highest number at 235 targets, which is “twice the numbers in the next five areas”. Limerick city and county was the next area to come in below that.
Men’s sheds
CAB has trained members of An Garda Síochana to act as profilers in local areas across the country, watching for things like bullet-proof windows and luxury vehicles.
One area which profilers have been warned to look out for is “man caves” popping up in resident’s backgardens.
“Profilers are trained to be the eyes and ears of CAB in the local division – to spot likely targets, submit a profile report, conduct local enquiries and very importantly for us, if they know a person’s background, they can swear what we call a criminal conduct affidavit.
“We tell profilers to look out for evidence of wealth, houses with bullet proof windows and doors, and these are not your trophy homes. These are often three bedroom modest houses in local authority areas.
“And excessive spending on renovations in what I call a man cave. The shed at the bottom of the garden, which is converted into a man’s room so the man can go out and do his coke and drink his beer, free from all interference from the outside world.
“It’s usually a sign that something’s not right.”
Earlier this year, the agency carried out both its lowest and highest value of assets suspected to be bought with the proceeds of crime.
In July, it targeted €5,010 in assets – it’s lowest ever asset value – while at the same time targeting the “highest single asset value in a case, which was over €50 million in bitcoin”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
To be fair…it takes a bigger person to acknowledge they are not the best person for the job. Next question is…who is?
@Dramafree 2023: Hopefully, someone with balls to stand up for Ireland
@Dramafree 2023: me.
@Dramafree 2023: Very good decision for his party. Again he surprised me. Not a typical politician glued to his chair.
@Dramafree 2023: No, it just takes a man who knows his time is up. Like the other ten, he will jump ship because he recognises the impending defeat he has led his party to through the relentless pursuit of foreign agendas ahead of the interests of the Irish people.
@Dramafree 2023: I expect a narcissist of his type to move onto big EU role shortly.
@Dramafree 2023: only took him 7 years
Trying to pretend this is no big deal?…election time now needed…the resignation of Taoiseach is a big deal this government cannot continue
So, just wait now for the inevitable scandal, and real reason for running for the hills, to be revealed. I’m sure he’ll ride off into the sunset with his palms we’ll greased. Rotten to the core.
@Michael Fielding: sure if no scandal comes to pass the conspiracy theorists will make up one
@Dan Ryan: The scandal is his political career. No theories required.
Something is off with this. Looks like he was pushed. Coveney trying not to look smug. Hopefully a general election will happen, not another ‘leader’ who does not represent the wishes of the Irish people, especially one who has publicly stated that they want to double our population
@Tilal Moore:they were going to have a no confidence vote on him as leaders. Which he would have lost . So saved him self Embarrassment
@Tilal Moore: You missed out a word. “Who does not represent the wishes of “some of” the Irish people…”.
You can’t claim that ALL Irish people have the same views as yourself.
@Tilal Moore: Where did he publicly state that he wants to double our population?
@Jason Memail: That was Coveney in 2017 & in 2018 that Cork’s population would treble by 2038
@Sal Paradise: obviously no leader could represent the wishes of all Irish people. We do need someone though who will listen to the concerns of the majority on important issues like healthcare, immigration planning, carer support etc. A general election is the fairest way of allowing the general public to use their voice
You never where the best for the job
@Navanman: why don’t you put your name down for it then
@Navanman: *were
@Fiona Wyse: That’s the kind of quizzical retort you’d expect from a 6 year old.
St Patrick’s revenge.
@JP: best comment so far lmao!
Don’t be fooled into believing this was honourable. There is no honour in that man. He ran from a sinking ship. His name will still be attached to the many many screw ups.. He achieved nothing!
@Eoghan Augusta: he did achieve something though… he’s completely fecked us all over and now he gets to walk away from his mess. Probably has a cushy job in thr EU set up now.
@Morticia Byrne: How, with full employment, a booming economy, majority of people own their own home, airlines and airports packed with holiday makers, you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting a new car ?
The government are setting up an enquiry into the reasons he resigned it will be headed up by Judge Judy.
He never was the best person for the job.
He’s pulling a Bertie, the coward!! He stopped being the best person for the job when the government allowed rent prices to soar to ridiculous levels that they are now at
In the photo, he is turning him back to the camera .just like the way he has turned his back to the Irish people on so many occasions
You never were the best person for the job. Just a little Torieboy boot licker.
You ruined our country . Now take your fg/FF buddies with you. The hardship and damage you have caused on working class people is unbelievable. Maggie Thatcher would be proud of you.
Brilliant at the beginning of pandemic, and if you don’t recognise this you’re fooling yourself, but quite bad on the big issues like housing and health system. Yes, indeed, he was perfect for the rich, for lgbt (no pb with that), but not everybody is rich or gay. He shouldn’t allowed this housing crisis, that’s absolutely incredible the way we are in now where the medium rent in Dublin is 80% of a medium wage.
@Chris: Yes, the memorable quotes from Mean Girls in his national address at the Covid outset was truly brilliant. A true statesman. Definitely not an infantile narcissist.
Good riddance
Don’t like the guy or his party, but that takes balls in fairness. He’s gone up.in my estimations. He’s now at a sum total of 1
Why do I feel like I want to open a bottle of Prosecco. This is the best news from the government in years.
FG have made no progress/improvements In the polls during Varadkar’s 7 year tenure. They have lost several by-elections and just recently the 2 referendums, in what was a disastrous result. The worst leader in FG’s history and one of the worst Taoisigh – he won’t be missed.
Considering he and ffg have had power since the foundation of the state and civil war politics are nearly finished, The grift will go on and on and on ,ps as much as I disagree with the man’s politics , I believe in democracy and he is the leader of of government and I respect that office,
That took a long time to come to that realization…
I think I must be mad, because I believe all those who enter politics should be admired and respected no matter what their political leaning. It is not easy having your family life upset and the unnecessary vile criticism of you constantly. All TDs enter the Dail to do the best they can for the country and not for the money. If it was for money we would have thousands on each ballot paper. All politicians get it wrong but then the are human. As a wise man once said ” he who makes no mistakes knows nothing “
@finbarr walsh: ya you’re mad
All I’ll say is thank God we had a Taoiseach who was a doctor at the start of the pandemic.
@Dawn O’Shea: And while we were building a new children’s hospital too. Made all the difference. Great work Leo.
@Dawn O’Shea: Yes, I’ll remember him for his efforts during the pandemic. He did more there and then to help Irish people and I’ve heard English people praising him and wishing their country had had better oversight. He also volunteered when he didn’t have to. Credit where it’s due; he did his part.
He never was the best person for the job!
“… Continue going forward” , “protect all that’s been achieved…” The man is deluded, the country hasn’t been in this bad a state for a long, long time. I struggled to watch that video, FFS, the guy is starting to cry at one stage !
Do I see Harris rubbing his hands (see photo) with glee anticipating his chances of being the next Taoiseach?
have your say