The Criminal Assets Bureau, in pursuit of its statutory remit, conducted an investigation into Christopher Waldron of 61 Killala Road, Cabra, Dublin 7. Arising from this investigation, an application was made to the High Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 targeting various assets in the possession and control of Christopher Waldron.
The Bureau provided evidence to the High Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 that Christopher Waldron had funded the purchase of assets through the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Cabra and Finglas areas of Dublin.
These proceedings culminated in orders being granted on the 30 March 2023, pursuant to Section 3(1) and 4A of the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996 as amended, over the house at 61 Killala Road, seven watches and cash in the sum of €4,605 and £445, determined to have derived from the proceeds of Christopher Waldron’s criminal conduct.
These orders were made on the consent of Christopher Waldron.
A stay was put on the order over 61 Killala Road, Cabra, Dublin 7 until 11am on the 7 March 2024 when the Court appointed Receiver, Bureau Legal Officer, Kevin McMeel to take possession of, and to sell the property by private treaty or public auction and to lodge the proceeds of the sale into a bank account for the benefit of the Central Fund.
In the course of these proceedings, a Quantity Surveyor appointed to carry out a site inspection by the Bureau in January of 2022, provided the High Court with independent expert evidence in respect of the works which were completed at the property following its initial purchase by Christopher Waldron in January 2013.
According to the expert opinion of the Quantity Surveyor, the total costs of the subsequent extension and the renovation of the property would have been in the region of €431,214 excluding professional fees. The funds used to build this extension and to renovate the property are determined to have derived from the criminal conduct of Christopher Waldron.
The watches listed below were seized as part of the investigation into Christopher Waldron and have been sold at auction on the 4 December 2023 for a total of €72,900. Cash amounting to €4,605 and £445.00 was also seized and forfeited to the State for the benefit of the Central Fund.
1. Gentleman’s stainless steel Breitling Super Avenger Automatic Chronograph Watch – sold for €3,000.
2. Ladies 18K Rolex Datejust watch – sold for €10,900.
3. Gentleman’s stainless steel Cartier Santos Automatic watch – sold for €1,700.
4. Gentleman’s Hublot Titanium Spirit of Bing Bang Moonphase Automatic Watch – sold for €8,300.
5. Ladies stainless steel and 18ct gold Rolex Datejust automatic watch – sold for €4,000.
6. Gentleman’s 18ct yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Day automatic watch – sold for €30,100.
7. Gentleman’s stainless steel and 18ct yellow gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller automatic watch – sold for €14,900.
This is another example of how the Bureau is successfully carrying out its statutory remit to deny and deprive.