Friday, October 12, 2012

Assets are unfrozen in priest cash case

TWO relatives of a woman alleged to have fraudulently misappropriated €130,000 from a retired priest no longer have their assets frozen.

Fr Vincent Kelly's sister, Ann Geary, took an action against Mary McLoughlin, alleging that she had "preyed upon" the 86-year-old priest.

Earlier this month, Mr Justice Roderick Murphy agreed to make a number of orders, including an order prohibiting Ms McLoughlin, of Corraugan, Kilmeena, Westport, Co Mayo, from reducing her assets below €51,713.

Freezing orders were also obtained ex parte against Ms McLoughlin's nephew, Thomas McLoughlin, restraining him from dissipating his assets below €39,000 and against her niece, Tara McLoughlin, restraining reduction of her assets below €25,000.

The judge was told yesterday that "significant progress has been made in the action".

Peadar O Maolain, for Ms Geary, said the freezing orders obtained against Thomas and Tara McLoughlin could be struck out. 

However, the freezing order against Ms McLoughlin is to remain in place.

The matter is expected to return before the court some time later this month.