Convicted gangland bagman wins legal aid in battle with CAB over Dublin home
A convicted gangland bagman has won free legal aid in his battle with the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) over his Dublin home.
Patrick Lawlor and his wife Leonie are contesting a CAB case against them in which their house on Collins Avenue West is being targeted.
Lawlor got a seven-year sentence in October 2022 after pleading guilty to handling almost €900,000 in criminal cash for which he was being paid €5,000 a month.
The Sunday World previously revealed he had been working for a criminal network linked to veteran Irish gangster George 'The Penguin' Mitchell.
At a High Court hearing last week, counsel for the couple said they are seeking legal aid and contested the valuation put on an extension and works to their house.
Patrick Lawlor and his son Ian
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 5th
It was also heard that Leonie Lawlor is continuing to pay the mortgage from legitimate income and that the house had been bought in 2007.
The CAB case centres on income generated between 2010 and 2020.
Judge Alexander Owens said that there is substantial value embedded in the home that is not the proceeds of crime.
The judge said there are special circumstances in this case and he granted legal aid for a junior counsel and a solicitor.
He previously ordered Patrick Lawlor to be produced in court from Shelton Abbey prison where he is serving his time after being asked by his son Ian to allow him attend court.
Subsequently Lawlor complained in court he couldn't find a solicitor to fight CAB's bid to seize his family home.
Lawlor, who is not due out of prison until 2028, said he has 'phoned about 30' without success.
'No-one is willing to do it,' he told Judge Owens.
The judge said he could not understand that and he would hear an application for free legal aid if one is made.
Last October, Leonie Lawlor told the court she has no access to money to fund a legal defence because her accounts have been frozen by CAB
None of the details of CAB's case against the couple have been opened in court but it emerged at his trial, first reported by CCC Nuacht, that Lawlor had earned the equivalent of €100,000 working just a few days a month.
It was also heard that following his arrest in 2020 a bank account was frozen while he was driving a 191-reg Mercedes at the time.
The money laundering operation was for a criminal gang which had an income of almost €12 million in 2019.
The trial judge said Lawlor played a 'central role' which would have been of 'critical importance' to the criminal organisation over a period of several years.
He had received substantial amounts of money for his role, and had accumulated money, which was part of the cash seized by gardaí during the search.
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