Two substantial Donegal properties come to the market today at the behest of the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab).
The Proceeds of Crime Act, established by the Government to fight organised crime, reached into the sleepy villages of Portnablagh and Creeslough this week to offer six houses and lands for auction.
The properties were formerly owned by well-known Dublin criminal Seán Dunne (34) who disappeared in Spain 18 months ago. At the time of his disappearance, Cab was seeking €4 million in taxes.
When he vanished from Alicante in September 2004, gardaí expressed concern about his safety as two members of the Westies crime gang apparently went missing in the same area earlier that year.
When the six houses and lands in the two locations in the county are sold, the proceeds will go to the Cab to continue its battle against organised crime in the State. The Donegal properties are advertised for the first time today in two lots without guide prices from Sherry FitzGerald Rainey of Letterkenny.
However, based on current local property prices, their sale value could exceed €2 million depending on demand.
Cab had a receiver appointed who acquired a High Court order recently to sell the six houses and lands by public auction on February 24th in the Mount Errigal Hotel at 3pm.
The office of the Chief State Solicitor, Harcourt Street, Dublin, is dealing with the sale.
Mr Dunne has convictions for assault and theft. He is originally from Donaghmede in Dublin but had been living in Ratoath, Co Meath, where an attempt was made on his life in November 2003.
He was reported to have owned a number of properties in southern Spain at the time of his disappearance.