SENIOR Kinahan cartel member Ross Browning remains at the centre of a fake passport probe — as the State looks to seize €1.7million of his assets.
The Criminal Assets Bureau this week described Browning as the crime gang’s “principal representative” in Ireland.
Today, The Irish Sun on Sunday can reveal how he used the bogus travel document to travel to Dubai to meet Daniel Kinahan.
He was quizzed by gardai over the bogus document when he returned to Ireland in May and released as the probe continued.
A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and, if charged and convicted, Browning could face ten years’ jail.
Since his arrest, the former resident of north inner city Dublin — who is best pals with cartel hitman Eamon Cumberton — has kept a low profile
As the pressure continues to mount on Browning and other senior cartel figures, he suffered another blow this week as CAB moved to seize €1.7million of assets they claim were purchased through the “proceeds of crime”.
One source said: “Browning is under serious pressure at the moment from a lot of fronts.
“He was ordered back to Ireland by the Kinahan cartel and he’s now their main man here because of his close connections to Daniel Kinahan and Sean McGovern.
“He’s still the focus of a garda investigation and could face charges if the DPP decides there is enough evidence to charge him“Browning is just one of many senior cartel figures who regularly use bogus passports when conducting cartel business.”
As Browning remains underground in Ireland, we have been handed an image of a house in Deanstown Road in Finglas which investigators allege was purchased through the proceeds of crime.
LEADING MEMBER
Other assets include a 1.3-acre property in Garristown, lands in Rush, several motorcycles and €60,000 worth of watches and jewellery seized in a raid in 2018.
The cars seized include an Audi SUV and a black Mercedes Benz van.
Browning has not responded to CAB’s claim but his mother Julie Conway and her partner, ex-detective David O’Brien, contest it.
Images seen by the Irish Sun on Sunday show O’Brien recently hosting a gathering at the property in Garristown.
The High Court heard on Friday how Browning’s mother and her partner say they live in a renovated cottage on Garristown.
As part of their applications to seize the assets, CAB claim Browning is a leading member of the “trans-national Kinahan organised crime gang”, whose operations have an estimated worth of €1billion.
KINAHAN ASSOCIATE
CAB said Browning was an associate of Christy ‘Dapper Don’ Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. who “handle the day to day running” of the mob.
Investigators also claim the gang is involved in murder, drug dealing, weapons importation in South America, the Middle East, Europe and Ireland.
They said he was the gang’s “principal representative in this jurisdiction” with close links to Liam Byrne, Glen Holland, Freddie Thompson, Gary Finnegan and Barry Finnegan.
At the same time CAB launched its crackdown on Browning, they also moved against James ‘Mago’ Gately’s home in Coolock, a Volkswagen GTI car and Rolex watches.
Gately and partner Charlene Lam claim the items were bought through legitimate means.
The High Court this week heard that he has not worked since 2015 due to a threat on his life, and that Ms Lam is a self-employed beautician, who pays the mortgage on the family home.
It is claimed that her business suffered during the pandemic and she was in receipt of PUP.
CAB said the pair should not get legal aid as they have been on cruises to the Caribbean and South-East Asia, and have spent €440,000 renovating their home.
No comments:
Post a Comment