Fitzgerald 'hugely concerned' about how reported €70m paramilitary cash pile is raised
The Justice Minister has raised questions over a reported €70m cash pile belonging to republican paramilitaries.
Frances Fitzgerald said she was extremely concerned about the destination of money raised through criminal activities and the potential for it to subvert and law and order in Ireland.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Minister Fitzgerald said the Gardaí had enjoyed significant successes against republicans involved in organised crime rackets which had resulted in the seizure of cash and contraband.
But she also said that these are big criminal operations and there are huge concerns about where the majority of this money is going.
"I would be hugely concerned about the impact on communities, the amount of criminality, the proceeds of crime, and where it's finding its way to," she said.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has issued 21 sets of legal proceedings so far against republicans involved in crime, the paper reports.
