A WOMAN who had all her assets frozen by the Gardaí appealed to be allowed withdraw €20,000 for living expenses at Tuam District Court.
Grace Orlando, The Cottages, Attifineen, Gort made the appeal via her solicitor Sean Acton before Judge James Faughnan.
The Judge was told €304,000 was frozen in her account. She had an additional €54,000 in her Revolut account and nothing in her current account, but Mr Acton explained that the Revolut account was also frozen through what he described as “a trickle-down system”.
The freeze was made under the Criminal Justice Money Laundering & Terrorist Finance Act 2010.
Mr Acton pleaded that his client currently has access to zero and is in need of funds for living expenses and renovations to her house costed at €9,500. He said she was the mother of three children and her own mother was terminally ill.
However, this was challenged by the State and Garda Sgt Christy Brown said that it was his information that the children mentioned were currently in care.
Judge Faughnan said that renovation costs were not living expenses and he would only order the release of €10,000 from the frozen funds for “food and drink only.” He added that he would go no further than that and the issue could be brought back before him when this amount was used up.
The State argued that there was a UK pension at play that Orlando had access to, and this was not made known to the Gardaí.
Mr Acton stressed that his client was not accused of anything and no charges were brought against her. He added that there was the sale of a property in the UK involved.
Judge Faughnan ordered the release of €10,000 from the frozen funds but the freeze is to remain in place.
