The Criminal Assets Bureau has taken possession of the luxury home of a convicted cash-in-transit armed robber who it said was part of a gang that robbed millions of euro.
At one point, 46-year-old Stefan Saunders was also charged with false imprisonment in connection with a so called 'tiger kidnapping' of a cash-in-transit company employee in 2010.
The trial was eventually abandoned by dint of a decision of the Supreme Court.
Saunders and his wife Tammy lived in the expensively furnished and extended house, in Clonee in Co Dublin, which the High Court ruled two-and-a-half years ago was purchased with the proceeds of crime.
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The couple failed in two appeals to keep the property and officers from CAB today took possession of the home.
Saunders was one of the country's most prolific and dangerous armed robbers.
He was part of a criminal gang suspected of being involved in several high profile crimes, including the armed robbery of over €1.8m from a Brinks Allied security van in Artane in Dublin in January 2005.
He and his wife then went on "a spending spree" on expensive cars, houses and extensive renovations from April 2005 until 2007.
This included a six-week luxury holiday in Orlando with extended family, the purchase of two BMWs, the purchase of the house in Hazelbury Park in Clonee for €360,000 and a €125,000 refurbishment and extension to the house.
Stefan Saunders paid for the extension to the side, back and attic of the house in cash, including €30,000 to a carpenter which was handed over €5,000 at a time in bundles of €50 notes.
The five-bed semi-detached house was refurbished in 2007 to what a valuer said was the "highest standard" with expensive sanitary ware, furnishings, projector screens and a jacuzzi.
The couple also bought a rental property in Mayestone Lawn in Finglas and invested in several design and beauty businesses.
They denied their money was the proceeds of crime. Stefan Saunders claimed he worked as a plasterer while Tammy claimed she drew a salary from an interior decorating business they owned.
However, Mr Justice Alexander Owens rejected these claims and found they had "access to amounts of money grossly out of kilter with possible sources of legitimate earnings".
He was arrested for attempted ATM robbery in 2016 and two years later he was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
The couple tried to keep the house but lost an appeal against the High Court decision at the Court of Appeal and then failed in their attempt to have the case heard by the Supreme Court.
Officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau today secured the property, which will be sold and the proceeds remitted to the state.
