A DUBLIN man has been granted free legal aid after his assets were frozen by the Criminal Assets Bureau. Mr Darren Gilligan, Weston Green, Lucan, owns a house worth £85,000 and a car worth £13,000 but cannot pay legal fees because of the bureau's investigation, Dublin District Court heard.
His solicitor, Mr Michael Hanahoe, yesterday handed into court a statement confirming the action by the Criminal Assets Bureau. He said his client could not now sell his property.
Mr Gilligan is charged with driving a stolen Honda Accord and stealing cash and cigarettes worth £1,800 from a premises in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, on January 18th. He is further charged with causing criminal damage to the stolen car and a Toyota Carina in Blanchardstown that day.
Judge Gerard Haughton was told £1,500 bail for the defendant was put up by "a family friend". Judge Haughton granted legal aid and remanded the defendant on continuing bail to June 11th.