Drug dealer loses his luxury €1.6m country mansion after four-year battle with Cab

Drug dealer David Waldron lost his four-year legal battle with the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) and his luxury Co Wexford home.

The €1.6m country mansion is the jewel in the crown of the three properties declared the proceeds of crime yesterday.

Delivering his judgment, Judge Alex Owens said he accepted evidence that Waldron was “a major player” in the distribution and sale of drugs.

The mortgages taken out on the properties were funded from the proceeds of crime and were obtained by fraudulent means.

Judge Owens said he took the view Waldron deceived mortgage lenders because he couldn’t make payments from legitimate means.

He also remarked while Mr Waldron’s wife Charlene put a lot of effort into Darview Heights, she was not using her money and there was no doubt criminal cash was used.

She could not have been unaware of the source of the cash and her husband’s activities and it would not be appropriate to compensate her.

Cab will apply to have receiver appointed to the properties at a later hearing.

Speaking after the case, the chief officer of Cab, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Gubbins, said the case highlights the value of the bureau’s work to the community.

“This was an individual who over 20 years amassed well over €3.3m which they expended on three properties which the bureau has taken to the High Court and proven its case that these are the proceeds of crime.

“I think it establishes why the bureau was established and, more importantly, it sends a message to the community.

“It’s not just the money we are taking off them but the houses.”

The case against Waldron and his wife, who has no involvement in crime, had been delayed by a wrangle over arguments around legal fees.

The couple had claimed to be too broke to hire a legal team, but held a lavish christening party costing thousands of euro.

As a result Cab appealed the decision to grant free legal aid.

At one hearing it emerged it was heard how the Court of Appeal sent the Waldron case back after evidence of the couple’s income and spending was found.

The couple also claimed pandemic unemployment payments (PUP) they were not entitled to, and Waldron was dealing in cars, according to Cab.

Waldron denied claims he was selling cars, saying one vehicle advertised online belonged to his eight-year-old son. He also said their P UP claims were made properly, according to his counsel.

It put forward in evidence that Waldron was dealing in cars and adverts offering cars for sale on DoneDeal were also linked to him.

Waldron said they belonged to other people, including his young son, who had done work on the car, it was claimed.

It was previously heard how he had purchased a property on Ratoath Road in Finglas, in September 2001, and then invested in a second property in River Forest, Leixlip, Co Kildare, before building Darview in Co Wexford for €1.6m.

The Darview build involved six different cash transfers using four different people.

The 3,000sq ft mansion in Co Wexford has its own bar, with a pool table as well as a gym, and views looking out over valleys in the Wexford countryside.

Waldron’s wife successfully applied to be seen as a partial owner of Darview, and said she had paid for her share through legitimate means.

The Leixlip property had €315,000 in renovations carried out on it while another property in Cabra saw €633,000 spent on it, according to Cab.

During a previous hearing, it emerged that Cab officers followed the financial trail back decades to show Waldron never had enough cash to pay for his properties.

Waldron, who had spent a number of years in prison or on social welfare, would have had to save most of his €18,000 dole money in 2001 to have the savings he claimed to use to buy his first house. Cab suspects Waldron is still earning money from criminality, the court heard.