Investigations of protection rackets continue
West Dublin has twice as many targets under investigation by the Criminal Assets Bureau than any other Garda division.
That's according to today's Sunday Independent which reports that up to the end of last month, 1,321 people or organisations were under investigation by CAB across the country.
Up to the end of September 2019, the Criminal Assets Bureau was investigating 235 targets in West Dublin alone.
Outside of the capital, Limerick had the highest rate with 98 CAB investigations followed by Meath, Kildare and Wexford.
Mayo and North Cork had the least amount of investigations.
The figures come after the Criminal Assets Bureau told the High Court last Tuesday that 'security' or 'protection money' was being paid to gangland figures to allow social housing be built in Cherry Orchard in West Dublin.
The High Court heard that building firms working on Dublin City Council housing projects paid money to violent criminals to prevent attacks at building sites.
It heard that the firms were handing over between €1,200 and €1,500 a week to stop intimidation of workers at sites in Cherry Orchard.
It also heard officials from the council were aware of what was happening and recommended that the money should be paid.
CAB is continuing its investigations of protection rackets while the Government announced an independent investigation into the extortion at Cherry Orchard.
