Jailed thief's assets frozen
Crimefighters in the North have seized control of a jailed thief's house, car and luxury watches, they revealed today.
The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) confirmed it had frozen fraudster Seamus Cunningham’s £180,000 (€272,000) estate.
After telling the High Court in Belfast that he did not have the income to support his lifestyle, ARA representatives were granted permission to make their move.
With Cunningham serving six years in Magilligan Prison, Co Derry for raiding a security van in 2003, the Agency has frozen his home in Dundrod, Co Antrim.
Using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, ARA also took his share in a property at Colinmill, Belfast; a Rover 25 Turbo Diesel car; two TAG Heuer watches; and money in a range of bank accounts.
Alan McQuillan, the Agency’s assistant director, said: “We are continuing to attack the assets of organised criminals at all levels of criminality. We have alleged in court that Mr Cunningham is a career criminal who has obtained his assets through crime.
“The High Court has now agreed to freeze these properties and we will continue the investigation with a view to asking the court to eventually declare that all these assets are recoverable.”
Cunningham has a string of criminal convictions stretching back to 1985.
His offences include robbery, burglary, going equipped to commit theft, and benefit fraud, as well as nine convictions for theft.
ARA also alleged in court that he may have been involved in mortgage and credit card fraud.
