The High Court has ruled that cryptocurrency held by a man serving a prison sentence for drugs offences is the proceeds of crime.

Ms Justice Carmel Stewart made orders sought by the Criminal Assets Bureau in respect of 2000 units of a currency, known as Ether or Ethereum, that is worth approximately €25,000 and was found in a cryptocurrency wallet belonging to Neil Mannion.

He opposed CAB’s application on the grounds that his rights had been breached arising out of CAB’s investigation into his holding of this cryptocurrency.

Those arguments were dismissed by the judge.

Mannion is currently serving a six-and-a-half ….read more

The High Court has ruled that a Limerick apartment linked to a convicted brothel keeper and her son was acquired with the proceeds of crime.

Ms Justice Carmel Stewart made the orders in favour of the Criminal Assets Bureau concerning the property in proceedings against Brazilian-born Aulicete Walsh and her son Maicon Morelli.

Mr Morelli is the apartment’s registered owner.

The exact location of the apartment cannot be identified for legal reasons.

In her judgement on Monday, Ms Justice Stewart said she had “no hesitation” in finding that property was acquired with the proceeds of crime.

The judge said that Mrs Walsh ….read more

(Pictured: Rebecca Carter. Credit: Collins)

The State Examinations Commission and the Minister for Education and Skills have appealed certain aspects of a High Court judgement which allowed Student Rebecca Carter to take up a place at veterinary medicine at University College Dublin.

The outcome of the appeal will not affect Ms Carter’s place in UCD, nor will she be liable for any legal costs incurred should the appellate court find in the State parties favour.

In September, Ms Carter won her High Court case aimed at forcing the commission to rectify an error in the totting up of her Leaving Certificate marks ….read more

Two leaving cert students have been formally expelled from the secondary school they attend for videoing and posting on social media a classmate snorting some white powder during a class.

The two have appealed that decision to the Department of Education, which has appointed an independent three-person committee under Section 29 of the 1998 Education Act (known as a “Section 29 Committee”).

That appeal is due to be heard in January.

Last month the students, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, secured High Court injunctions against the school’s board of management allowing the students attend school and continue their education ….read more

The High Court has granted the extradition of a 79-year-old man to the United States, where the the FBI claims he has been ‘producing child pornography for decades’.

The US-Irish citizen, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had objected to his extradition to New York, where he is wanted to face trial on charges related to the sexual exploitation and transportation of a minor as well as two counts of possessing child pornography.

The FBI claims that for at least 30 years, he participated in the production and possession and sale of child pornography, which involved himself engaging in sexually explicit ….read more

A judge has ordered a farmer to appear before the High Court next week over his refusal to comply with a court order to vacate 50 acres of land he owns.

In a judgement, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds said she was “satisfied beyond reasonable doubt” that Mr Tom Morrin is in breach of orders made against him by the High Court in July 2017.

Those orders direct him to surrender vacant possession and remove all machinery and livestock from 50 acres of land at Caragh, Naas Co Kildare to a receiver appointed over the property.

He has also failed to comply ….read more

Lawyers for two men wanted in Northern Ireland for the alleged attempted murder of a PSNI officer have brought legal challenges against their arrest and detention in Co Donegal.

Dublin men Ciaran Maguire (29), of Kippure Park, Finglas South and Sean Paul Farrell (32), of Stannaway Road, Kimmage, are wanted in northern Ireland for alleged attempted murder of a police officer and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life.

Both men face life imprisonment on both counts if found guilty.

A European Arrest Warrant issued by Northern Irish authorities states that an Improvised Explosive Device was found under the ….read more

(File Picture: Maurice McCabe. Credit: Collins)

The State has admitted liability in two of a number of claims brought against it by Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe, the High Court has heard.

Mr Justice Kevin Cross was informed on Tuesday that liability had been admitted in a personal injuries claim brought by Mr McCabe against the Garda Commissioner, Ireland and the Attorney General.

Paul McGarry SC for Mr McCabe, who exposed abuses of the penalty points system within the Gardai, said that while liability had been admitted in this particular case his client was seeking a hearing date when the level of ….read more

A farmer has brought High Court proceedings aimed at allowing him to sell 46 acres of land he owns so he can pay off his debts to what he describes as a “vulture fund”.

The action has been brought by Mr Charlie Jennings against financial fund Promontoria (Oyster) DAC in respect of lands the farmer owns at Castletown, Kilpatrick Navan Co Meath.

He claims that he has on several occasions asked what he describes in a sworn statement to the Court as “a vulture fund” to provide him with a net redemption figure which allows him to redeem the loan so his ….read more

An academic and part-time researcher with the Roman Catholic advocacy group the Iona Institute has brought defamation proceedings against Twitter over tweets which he claims defamed him.

The action has been brought by Dr Angelo Bottone in respect of several tweets, which he says are untrue and defamatory of him, made in October 2017 and which he claims he asked Twitter to remove.

The High Court has heard that the allegedly defamatory tweets were not taken down and Dr Bottone, of Chanel Road, Dublin 5, has sued the social media platform.

Twitter denies it is responsible for any tweets that are allegedly ….read more