£8.2M Assets Frozen on South Armagh Brothers

Northern Ireland's ARA, Asset Recovery Agency, the equivalent of the CAB here in the south, has succeeded in getting a Court Order, allowing them to freeze £8.2 million in assets linked to the McGleenan brothers, Joseph and Francis from the Keady/Tassagh area of South Armagh, and thought to be the proceeds of fuel 'washing' and smuggling.

This is the biggest single 'capture' so far for the agency, which was rumoured to be ready for the chop, because of non performance, but this latest success may get it a reprieve.

It was set up in 2003 following the success of the CAB, and up to recently had only achieved a haul of £8 million, but at a cost of £60 million to run the agency.

The latest haul includes 11 bank accounts and 36 houses. Last year a Court Order concerning £400,000 worth of assets, was secured against another brother Damien.

Of course freezing assets and securing a conviction a two different things, and this Court Order doesn't necessarily mean a victory, but it does inflict a serious amount of day to day discomfort to their business in the meantime.