Paddy Power to give evidence in poker player case

BOOKMAKER Paddy Power is due to give evidence at Limerick Circuit Court next month when a poker player seeks the return of €36,000 seized by Gardaí who claim the money was obtained through the proceeds of crime and not won at a poker tournament. Paul Carr from Moyross, but with an address at Vartry Avenue, Raheen has had a long running court battle to claim back the money that gardai seized in a search of a friend’s home. Mr Carr has been before Limerick District Court on a number of occasions applying to have the money returned after it was seized in May 2011.

Mr Carr claims he won the money at a poker tournament in April 2010 and, as people knew he had the money, he had given it to a friend for safe keeping.
Having failed at the District Court to have the money returned, Paul Carr is now objecting to a Circuit Court application to have the money forfeit to the State.
The money was seized after gardai searched the house under the misuse of drugs act, but no drugs were found at the address.
In his previous applications, Mr Carr told the courts that he came second in a Paddy Power poker tournament at the Burlington Hotel in April 2010 and the money was part of his €300,000 prize.
Counsel for the State, John O’Sullivan, told last week’s sitting of the Circuit court that he wanted to call the betting agent as a witness to hear evidence relating to the tournaments hosted by Paddy Power.
The matter was adjourned to the next sitting of the circuit court on January 15.