Courts / Clare / Report

Supreme Court won't hear alleged drug kingpin's appeal against CAB order

Date
2022-03-16

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Shannon

County
Clare

Summary

The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by alleged drug dealer John McCormack against a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) order that several Mid‑West properties were bought with proceeds of crime. The High Court had found that evidence showed McCormack had been involved in serious criminal activity for many years and that the income from that activity likely funded the purchase of the properties at Purcell Park, Cloontra West and Claughan Fort. In 2020 Mr Justice Alexander Owens made orders restraining McCormack and others from dealing with the properties. McCormack appealed to the Court of Appeal, which upheld the findings, and then sought a Supreme Court appeal on the grounds that the case involved matters of general public importance. The Supreme Court, in a written decision, held that McCormack had not established any such issue and that it was not in the interests of justice to allow the appeal.