This is the young father whose detached home was seized in a huge operation by the Criminal Assets Bureau – that targeted a gang in rural County Kerry.
The move against Patrick Coffey, 36, came after the High Court was told he was a member of the organised crime gang that was involved in home improvement scams all over Ireland, retain and Europe.
Mr Coffey had his detached home seized as part of Operation Tarmac – the long-running CAB probe into the gang.
His social media profile shows several pictures of him on holidays with family and friends in Europe and America.
As part of the probe into the whole gang, CAB officers also previously seized nine cars, including five luxury BMWs, an Audi and a Mercedes.
The officers also took possession of:
• Twelve Watches (Ten Rolex, One Cartier, One Dolce and Gabbana)
• Four Bank and Credit Union Accounts – with cash totalling €177,104
• €133,540 in hard cash, and
• a Louis Vuitton bag
Sources last night told The Star that the value of the entire haul in the three year operation was at least €1.2 million euro.
The High Court documents in a case that was finalised this week, allege that Mr Coffey is a member of a gang that is involved in bogus home improvement work all over Europe.
CAB claimed in the High Court that the gang targets vulnerable people in Ireland, Britain and in the continent and the work is often found to be of a poor standard.
Gardai began their investigation into the gang in 2016, and then passed it on to the Criminal Assets Bureau, who examined suspects’ finances.
That probe, codenamed Tarmac, culminated in yesterday’s seizure operation.
Sources said CAB investigators believe the gang made more than €3.7 million from their operation.
It largely centred on laying poor quality tarmac for homeowners all over Europe.
Cops in several European countries, including France and Italy, have repeatedly warned people to be on the lookout for Tarmac scammers.
