Limerick poker player says ‘drug money’ is his
Poker-player Paul Carr says �36,000, which was seized last year, belongs to him
A WITNESS from bookmaking firm Paddy Power may be summoned to give evidence in proceedings to have more than €36,000 in cash forfeited to the state.
Court proceedings have been initiated in relation to the cash which was seized by gardai at a house in Caherdavin last year. It is the state case that the money, which was seized in May 2011, was the proceeds of drug dealing and therefore should be forfeited.
However, professional poker player Paul Carr from Moyross is opposing the application, which is being made under the provisions of Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994.
During a separate but related application at Limerick District Court last year, Mr Carr revealed he had won more than €300,000 in a poker tournament which was held in Dublin in April 2010.
He said he subsequently gave more than €36,000 to a friend of his – Jason Ahern – to mind for security reasons.
Carr said this was something he regularly did as a precaution as people were aware he had money and cash at his home.
During last year’s District Court proceedings, Jason Ahern said he was keeping the money for Mr Carr and that he was “doing nothing else with it”.
Previously, gardai were given a court order allowing them to detain the money to facilitate inquiries into its origins.
It is the state case that the cash, which was seized at Mr Ahern’s girlfirend’s home during a drugs search, was the proceeds of crime.
However it was previously conceded that no drugs were seized during the search.
At Limerick Circuit Court this week. John O’Sullivan BL, representing the DPP, said witness evidence would be required during the proceedings.
Mr O’Sullivan sought an adjournment until the New Year to allow inquiries to be made relating to securing the attendance of a witness from Paddy Power.
Michael Collins BL, representing Paul Carr, questioned the need to have a witness from Paddy Power give evidence during the proceedings.
He said the €300,000 his client won in 2010 had “nothing to do with online gambling”.
Despite, Mr Collins’s concerns, Judge Carroll Moran granted the state application for an adjournment indicating he will fix a date to hear the full case next month.
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