Cavan builder forced to pay 'protection money'

A Cavan building firm has been caught up in the middle of an explosive legal action covering extortion, intimidation and Dublin City council.

In the course of a High Court hearing it was stated that Adston Ltd, a construction firm with an office in Belturbet, were forced to pay €136,000 for “security costs” to known criminals.

On Tuesday Ms Justice Carmel Stewart heard the High Court Application by the Criminal Assets Bureau in respect of property owned by Derek 'Dee Dee' O'Driscoll from Croftwood Grove and David Reilly from Croftwood Park.

The hearing was told that officials from Dublin City Council were aware and recommended that protection money be paid to two violent criminals so that council houses could be built in west Dublin in 2016 and 2017.

Three building firms working for the city council paid between €1,200 and €1,500 a week to O'Driscoll and "his enforcer" David Reilly prevent the sites and construction staff from being attacked.

Over €250,000 in the men's bank accounts has been declared the proceeds of crime and confiscated by the Criminal Assets Bureau, along with a mobile home and a horsebox. A CAB officer told the court that council officials told the builders that the two men were "providing security" and "making sure there were no problems" at the sites.

MYD construction paid €232,000; Adston Ltd paid €136,200 and ABM Design and Build paid €181,114.

Dublin City Council said it was investigating the matter.