PSNI woman quizzed in fuel smuggling probe

Constable McKee from Rathfriland. Co Down, is well known in equestrian circles. The horses took part in jumping events and point-to-point races.

Assets estimated to be worth £750,000 belonging to the couple and a second man, Patrick Carr, also from Rathfriland, were frozen by the High Court in Belfast last week, but Ms McKee’s job as a serving police officer was only confirmed tonight.

The ARA claimed that she had been connected to falsely obtaining tax credit, tax evasion, benefit fraud and holding property funded by her husband Samuel’s alleged criminality.

The agency also claimed in court that he and Carr were both involved in excise and tax evasion, fuel smuggling and money laundering.

Carr was also said to have been linked to false accounting.

The agency obtained permission to freeze property belonging to the McKee’s which included:

:: a house at Downpatrick Street, Rathfriland;

:: three vehicles;

:: 15 horses and various bank accounts;

Carr’s assets listed in the court order included:

:: Properties in Rathfriland;

:: The lease of a filling station at Saintfield Road, Lisburn;

:: Eight vehicles and a range of bank accounts and insurance policies.

It is understood Constable McKee was spoken to briefly by ARA officers last week. It is expected she, her husband and Carr will be formally interviewed later.

After ARA officials received High Court permission to have the estimated £750,000 assets frozen last week, Alan McQuillan, the agency’s deputy director said: “We are sending a clear message to those involved in illicit oil trading and all other forms of criminality that whoever they are, and wherever they operate, all their assets are now at risk.”

A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said tonight she could not comment on the investigation.

She said: “It’s a matter for the Assets Recovery Agency.”