Latest news with #SkodaOctavia
The Journal
2 days ago
- The Journal
Court rules three Limerick houses tied to son of organised crime figure are proceeds of crime
THE HIGH COURT has ruled that three houses associated with the son of slain Limerick organise crime figure Kieran Keane Sr are the proceeds of crime, as are three cars and over €100K frozen by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). Having accepted garda evidence that Kieran Keane Jnr was a 'driving force' in organised crime, the High Court today appointed receivers to two of the three houses, the cars and €101,000 in an AIB account. The property and bank account were allegedly used by the respondents Kieran Keane Jnr, who is believed to be in Dubai or Spain, and his girlfriend, Laura Flanagan, with an address in Garryowen, Co Limerick. The court found that Keane Jnr had no recognisable source of income and that Flanagan had been saving her social welfare for a period. Keane Jr is the son of Limerick feud gangster Kieran Keane Sr, who was murdered in January 2003, and the nephew of convicted drug-dealer Christy Keane. Mr Justice Alexander Owens said that an application for receivership over a Garryowen home occupied by Flanagan and her family would have to be brought by CAB at the next sitting. The judge said any application for a stay would be considered at that time. Shelley Horan BL, for CAB, told the court that a forensic analysis of the bank account used by Keane Jr and Flanagan revealed trips to Lithuania for cosmetic surgery, travel to Spain, the UK, Dubai and also to Lapland within the period of 2010 to 2019. At the High Court today, Mr Justice Owens found that three Limerick properties that Keane enjoyed the benefit of but had no title on, were the proceeds of crime. Horan had told the judge that 'absolutely nothing is offered for the source of funds for the seven assets subject to this case'. Refurbishment costs Horan said a financial analyst at CAB estimated that one of the three Limerick properties had undergone approximately €289,000 in refurbishments which could not be accounted for. Mr Justice Owens ruled that three cars, an Audi A4 – since sold by CAB – a Skoda Octavia and a VW Amarok were also the proceeds of crime and had been used by Keane Jr. Mr Justice Owens said that, regarding the AIB account, it appeared that they were 'living on fresh air' due to a lack of bank records for everyday regular expenditure. Advertisement The judge said that if Keane was in Dubai for a number of years then he must have money to pay his bills there because otherwise the respondent would be in jail. The judge said he would take into consideration that it would be 'clearly disruptive' to remove Flanagan and her family from their home in Garryowen. Mr Justice Owens said that Keane Jr had lived outside of the jurisdiction for a number of years without any apparent present intention to return, but he 'envisaged' Keane Jr would do so in the future as his partner and children are living here. The judge said he was satisfied from a 'comprehensive' investigation by CAB that all three Garryowen properties were 'derived from the proceeds of crime' acquired in 'cash under the table deals'. The judge said of a separate, fourth property, not involved in the High Court proceedings and since sold by the couple that 'one cannot see where the money for that came from'. The judge said that an accounting analyst at CAB reported that property was bought as a 'shell' after being burned out and that €180K was spent on renovations. 'One can see from the photos it is anything but a shell. It was totally renovated and sold off,' said the judge. Mr Justice Owens said that it had been contended by Keane Jr that the money in the AIB account was from, among other things, the sale of motor cars from his garage but that the firm never made any tax returns. 'It is impossible to see any legitimate source for the working capital,' he said. Mr Justice Owens said that a lifestyle analysis carried out by CAB made it 'clear' that Keane Jr did not have the money to purchase the cars. The judge said he accepted CAB officers' belief evidence on affidavit that Keane Jr had allegedly associated with a number of known criminals and that he was an alleged 'driving force' in organised crime. 'It is likely that this criminal organisation is the source of funds used for all of these properties,' said the judge. Mr Justice Owens awarded costs solely against Keane Jr and noted that neither Keane Jr nor Flanagan were on free legal aid. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Three houses associated with the son of slain Limerick gangster are proceeds of crime
Three houses associated with the son of slain Limerick gangster Kieran Keane Sr are the proceeds of crime, the High Court has ruled. Three cars and more than €100,000 frozen by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has also been deemed the proceeds of crime. Kieran Keane Jr, who is believed to be in either Dubai or Spain, and his girlfriend Laura Flanagan, with an address in Garryowen, Co Limerick, had receivers appointed to two of the houses, the cars, and €101,000 in an AIB account after the High Court found Mr Keane had no recognisable source of income. Mr Keane Jr is the son of Limerick feud gangster Kieran Keane Sr, who was murdered in January 2003, and the nephew of convicted drug dealer Christy Keane. Mr Justice Alexander Owens said that an application for receivership over the Garryowen home property occupied by Ms Flanagan and her family can be brought by CAB at the next sitting of the case when any application for a stay will be considered. Shelley Horan, counsel for CAB, told the court that a forensic analysis of the couple's finances showed that travel expenses from the bank account used by Mr Keane Jr and Ms Flanagan showed expenses that revealed trips to Lithuania for cosmetic surgery, travel to Spain, Dubai, and also to Lapland within the period of 2010 to 2019. At the High Court, Mr Justice Owens found that three Limerick properties, that Mr Keane enjoyed the benefit of but had no title on, were the proceeds of crime. Ms Horan had told the judge that "absolutely nothing is offered for the source of funds for the seven assets subject to this case". Ms Horan said a financial analyst at the CAB estimated that one of the three Limerick properties had undergone approximately €289,000 in refurbishments which could not be accounted for. Mr Justice Owens ruled that three cars, an Audi A4 — since sold by CAB — a Skoda Octavia, and a VW Amarok were also the proceeds of crime and had been in the possession of Mr Keane Jr. Mr Justice Owens said that, regarding the AIB account, it appeared that they were "living on fresh air" due to a lack of bank records for everyday regular expenditure. The judge said that if Mr Keane was in Dubai for a number of years then he must have money to pay his bills there because otherwise the respondent would be in jail. The judge said that Ms Flanagan and her children resided at the family home in Garryowen and that it would be "clearly disruptive" to remove them from their family environment, which he had to take into consideration. Mr Justice Owens said that Mr Keane Jr had lived outside of the jurisdiction for a number of years without any apparent present intention to return but said he "envisaged" Mr Keane Jr would do so in the future as his partner and children were living here. The judge said he was satisfied from a "comprehensive" investigation by CAB that all three Garryowen properties were "derived from the proceeds of crime" acquired in "cash under the table deals". The judge said of a separate, fourth property, not involved in the High Court proceedings and since sold by the couple that "one cannot see where the money for that came from". The judge said that an accounting analyst at CAB reported that property was bought as a "shell" after being burned out and that €180,000 was spent on renovations. "One can see from the photos it is anything but a shell. It was totally renovated and sold off," said the judge. Mr Justice Owens said that it had been contended by Mr Keane Jr that the money in the AIB account was from, among other things, the sale of motor cars from his garage but that the firm never made any tax returns. "It is impossible to see any legitimate source for the working capital," he said. Mr Justice Owens said that a lifestyle analysis carried out by CAB made it "clear" that Mr Keane Jr did not have the money to purchase the cars. The judge said he accepted CAB officers' belief evidence on affidavit that Mr Keane Jr had allegedly associated with a number of known criminals himself and that he was an alleged "driving force" in organised crime. "It is likely that this criminal organisation is the source of funds used for all of these properties," said the judge. Mr Justice Owens awarded costs solely against Mr Keane Jr and noted that neither Mr Keane Jr or Ms Flanagan were on free legal aid.
Motor 1
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Here's What It's Actually Like To Own a Skoda
As the sole European member of the Motor1 US team, I often prod my colleagues about just how good I have it when it comes to car variety. Despite living in an SUV era, Europe still has hatchbacks, sedans, and wagons abound. I can still get a regular Volkswagen Golf here in Romania, even with a manual gearbox. However, in 2017, I chose its superior alternative: The Skoda Octavia. For those who don't know, "Octavia" is derived from the Latin word for "eight." Skoda opted for this moniker because the original car, launched in 1959, was its eighth model after the end of World War II. My car turned eight a few weeks ago, so I figured now would be the right time to report on what it's been like living with Czechia's hugely successful family car. My 2017 Skoda Octavia Photo by: Adrian Padeanu What I Love About My Skoda My Skoda has been a reliable partner from day one. I've never had a problem with it, and it still runs as if I just drove it off the dealer lot. It has been religiously serviced every year by a mechanic whom I fully trust. I always ask him to give the car a once-over and tell me if there's something I should replace. That hasn't happened so far. The car has nearly 90,000 kilometers—or 56,000 freedom units—on the odometer. There are a few reasons why the mileage is relatively low. During the first years of ownership, I still had my old car, a Kia Pro Ceed coupe, which I drove when I needed to run errands by myself. Then, COVID-19 arrived in 2020, when my daughter was barely three years old. My wife and I decided not to take any risks, so we stayed home for the better part of two years. I went on to replace the Kia with a far more exciting car, a Mazda MX-5 Miata RF (ND2), which I had for about a year. I had my fun with the "mid-life crisis" car, but I ultimately parted ways with the hardtop convertible because I didn't have the time to enjoy it thoroughly. Since mid-2023, the Octavia has been my only car. When My Skoda Was Still New, With the Factory Bridgestone tires. I Installed Michelins Last Month There are many reasons why I like the Octavia. Despite being labeled as a compact car, it's about as large as a VW Passat. It's immensely practical, especially when compared to the Golf upon which it's based. I still think it's the perfect body style since it combines the silhouette of a sedan with the tailgate of a hatchback. Hot take: all sedans should be hatchbacks, or better said, liftbacks. There's plenty of room in the back, and the huge cargo area can accommodate bulky items with ease. It can swallow 20.8 cubic feet (590 liters) behind the rear seats, and if you fold them down, there's enough room to cram in a mattress I bought for my daughter's bed. Photo by: Adrian Padeanu I bought the car just before the VW Group began to slide down a slippery slope in terms of interiors. The build quality is rock-solid, and there are still plenty of physical buttons and knobs that I use without taking my eyes off the road. Muscle memory is safer than relying on a touchscreen. I know, I know; old man yells at cloud. The dashboard layout with the screen fully integrated is just about perfect, and I wouldn't change a thing. Well, maybe I'd get rid of the blank buttons that remind me I didn't tick all the boxes on the options list. But I did splurge on extras. My friends and family were surprised to see heated rear seats in a Skoda. My Octavia also has dual USB ports in the back, which weren't that common on mainstream cars eight years ago. When extra charging juice is necessary beyond what those outdated USB ports can deliver, I rely on the rear power outlet (150 watts), a rare feature in this segment. Photo by: Adrian Padeanu Photo by: Adrian Padeanu The engine is a gem. It's the ubiquitous 1.8 TSI, specifically the EA888 in its third generation. The VW Group largely addressed the problems of its predecessors, including high oil consumption, timing chain issues, and water pump leaks. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 180 hp and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque. Ok, that might not sound like much in horsepower-hungry America, but the Octavia is a relatively light car, weighing in at just over 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms). It's no slouch either, doing 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in roughly seven seconds. I won't be setting Nürburgring records anytime soon, but the engine is poky enough for what I need. I opted for the six-speed manual, but in hindsight, I should've splurged on the dual-clutch automatic. As a man pushing 40 and having to do school runs in rush hour in a crowded city, the stick is honestly becoming a nuisance. Not going for the DSG is without a doubt my biggest regret. My next car will certainly be an automatic. I already know what I'll buy, but more on that later. What I Don't Love About My Skoda I still don't like the split headlights. They look like knockoff lights for a Mercedes E-Class (W212) from Temu. I get what Skoda was trying to do by making the inner part of the headlight merge with the grille, but it just doesn't work. It irks me to see how the bumper divides the headlight into two pieces. It's worth noting that despite the apparent split layout, the headlight is actually a one-piece unit. The horror Although it features a full-LED setup, the headlights are not particularly impressive. Perhaps the Miata's superior matrix LEDs spoiled me, and now I'm finding the Octavia's headlights a downgrade. The current-generation model does a far better job at illuminating the road ahead, and the headlights also look way nicer. The gearing is annoyingly long. It's my fault for not driving an Octavia before buying it. I didn't, because there wasn't one available at my local dealer with the 1.8 TSI, so I figured, why bother? Big mistake. It really hinders the engine's capabilities, but I assume Skoda went this way to improve efficiency. After all, European emissions regulations are the strictest in the world. The rear suspension is a bit on the loud side. It's been this way since day one, though it's not a major concern since the noise only becomes noticeable on rough roads. The car also sits higher than I'd like, but I've been told VW/Skoda tunes the suspension based on the country. Because roads in Romania are some of the worst in Europe, ground clearance is higher. While I'm not a fan of modifying cars, I may lower it one day. On the other hand, my Octavia features a multi-link rear setup, a benefit that comes with the 1.8-liter engine. I've driven lower-spec Octavias with a torsion beam, and the difference is noticeable. The VW Group used to equip most configurations of its compact cars with an independent rear suspension, but in the era of cost-cutting, every euro saved counts. The Essential Rear Wiper Photo by: Adrian Padeanu Soundproofing could be better. The car tends to get noisy at higher speeds, and while I know the Octavia isn't a luxury car, I still wish it had more noise-absorbing materials. The fancier Superb does better in that regard, but it was simply too expensive for what I was looking for when I went car shopping eight years ago. I wish the Octavia had a larger fuel tank. At 23.5 miles per gallon (10 liters/100 kilometers) in the city, fuel consumption isn't terrible for a non-hybrid with a relatively large engine. Well, 'large' by European standards, as three-cylinder 1.0-liter engines are unfortunately prevalent on the continent. I can't drive it for more than 310 miles (500 kilometers) in the city before the gas light turns on. Out on the open road, I can probably nearly double that if I fully commit to hypermiling. The infotainment system is occasionally laggy, but perhaps I shouldn't complain, given the numerous software issues newer VW Group cars have experienced. Support for wireless Android Auto would've been nice, although I'm probably nitpicking by now. Photo by: Adrian Padeanu So, What's Next? Well, not much. I plan to keep the car for at least another five years. The EU's ban on new cars with combustion engines is looming, but I intend to get a final ICE car before they're outlawed. The cut-off date is 2035, so I still have about nine years left to take the plunge. When the time comes, it'll be another Skoda, either another Octavia or I'll stretch the budget for a Superb . Either way, it'll definitely be a wagon. As practical as my pseudo-sedan is, a wagon's taller rear section makes it even more spacious. Sure, I could get a nicer, lightly used BMW 3 Series Touring, but I'd always worry about maintenance and repair costs. The Octavia has been cheap to run and trouble-free so far, so I'd trust Skoda once again with my money. However, I'll have to fork out a lot more. I paid about €22,000 in 2017, but an equivalent car is now well over €30,000. Upgrading to a Superb would push the price into €40,000 territory. Skoda isn't an isolated case; that's how the cookie crumbles with new car prices around the world. Skoda Octavia eight-year ownership 22 Source: Adrian Padeanu More on Skoda Skoda Turned an Old Hatchback Into an Awesome New Concept This High-Power Skoda Wagon Is Our New Favorite Sleeper Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Spurned cop caught driving while disqualified in Rutherglen
Ross Meldrum, 38, was repeatedly caught behind the wheel in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, between March 20 and 22, 2025. Meldrum is awaiting sentencing later this month after he was convicted of keeping tabs on his former lover Julie Masterton. This took place at her new home in Glasgow's East End and the former marital property in Glenboig, Lanarkshire. READ MORE: Sex attacker with more than 100 convictions tried to rape woman on street Miss Masterson, also 38, recalled how she was left "scared" by Meldrum, who also claimed to have personal information on her current partner. Meldrum pleaded guilty today at Glasgow Sheriff Court to driving while disqualified. A separate charge of driving without insurance had a not guilty plea accepted by the Crown. The court heard that Meldrum in a white Skoda Octavia was involved in a serious road traffic collision on March 23 this year. READ MORE: Rise in suspected drug deaths in Glasgow so far this year Prosecutor Amy Clyne said: "This raised concern in relation to Meldrum driving as he was noted to be disqualified on February 18, 2025, for 26 months." CCTV inquiries then took place, which showed that Meldrum drove on a number of occasions between the dates specified, which included two on the same day. Sentence for Meldrum's latest matter was deferred pending background reports until next month by Sheriff Mary Shields.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-Ukrainian military official suspected of $290,000 in illicit enrichment
A former head of one of the key departments in the Logistics Forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces is suspected of illicit enrichment worth Hr 12 million ($290,000) and illegal possession of weapons, the State Investigation Bureau (DBR) and the National Agency on Corruption Prevention announced on June 9. Ukraine's military has seen several corruption scandals since the start of Russia's full-scale war, related to illicit enrichment, money laundering, bribery, and misconduct of the command. The agencies did not disclose the suspect's name, who faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. During 2023-2024, the ex-head of the department purchased 14 land plots in Kyiv Oblast, an apartment, a Toyota Tundra, a Skoda Octavia, a Hyundai Tucson, and domestic government bonds issued by Ukraine's Finance Ministry, according to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention. Meanwhile, the suspect and his family had no financial means to purchase these assets, the agency's statement reads. While searching the suspect's house, law enforcement officers also found weapons and ammunition stored illegally. The preventative measures for the suspect are now being considered. Ukraine's Logistics Forces, established in 2018, are in charge of providing supplies and technical maintenance for the Ukrainian troops on the front line. This branch of the armed forces is also responsible for adapting the Ukrainian army to NATO standards, particularly in the field of logistics. Read also: Exclusive: Ukraine could face 500+ Russian drones a night as Kremlin builds new launch sites We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
