High Court appoints liquidators to Liberty Recycling charity in money-laundering probe
A garda money laundering investigation into Liberty Recycling, a charity based at Bluebell Industrial Estate in west Dublin, led to searches across Dublin, eastern and southern regions the previous week in which detectives from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau seized two BMW X5 cars, luxury bags, watches and jewellery valued at around €300,000, with no arrests made. The charity, chaired by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh, acquired fixed assets totalling €1,052,028 over four years from 2022 to 2025, including a Porsche and a BMW Jeep registered to a company called Liberty Developments and in the possession of a senior staff member. The Charities Regulator said it has very serious concerns that the charity's operations and bank account are being used for unlawful purposes and sought a wind-up order under the Charities Act 2009. On 27 October 2026 the High Court appointed provisional liquidators to the charity, placing executive control into independent hands, with a hearing on the winding-up application scheduled for November.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court27 Oct
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The charity acquired additional fixed assets totalling €1,052,028 over four years from 2022 to 2025, including a Porsche purchased in 2025 and a 2026 BMW Jeep, both registered to a company called Liberty Developments and in the possession of a senior staff member.
- Where
- The charity is based at Bluebell Industrial Estate in west Dublin and has shops in several counties.
- When
- Search warrants were executed on locations in Dublin, eastern and southern regions on Tuesday and Wednesday the previous week.
- Investigation
- Detectives from the money laundering investigation unit at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau seized two BMW X5 cars worth around €250,000, Louis Vuitton bags, Rolex watches and jewellery with an estimated value of €40,000, totalling around €300,000 in assets.
- No one was arrested in the searches.
- Gardaí are investigating alleged suspicious transactions comprising substantial international transfers of funds not commensurate with the charity's activity.
- In court
- On 27 October 2026 the High Court appointed provisional liquidators to Liberty Recycling following a petition by the Charities Regulator to wind up the charity under the Charities Act 2009.
- A hearing on the winding-up application is scheduled for November 2026.
- Other details
- Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh is the chair of Liberty Recycling.
- The Charities Regulator said there is no evidence that the charity trustees are involved in the activities under investigation by the GNECB.
- The charity was established to support those with addiction and operates a clothes recycling initiative to provide employment and training to local people affected by drugs.
- The company recorded total income of €3,633,263 and expenditure of €3,980,895 for the financial year ending December 2024.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe charity acquired additional fixed assets totalling €1,052,028 over four years from 2022 to 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA Porsche was purchased in 2025 and a 2026 BMW Jeep was purchased, both registered to a company called Liberty Developments. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe vehicles were in the possession and control of a senior staff member of the charity. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe charity is based at Bluebell Industrial Estate in west Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe garda money laundering investigation seized around €300,000 in assets. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí from the money laundering unit carried out searches in Dublin and in the south and east of the country the previous week. (rte.ie)
- investigationTwo BMW X5 cars worth around €250,000 were seized. (rte.ie)
- investigationLouis Vuitton bags, Rolex watches and jewellery with an estimated value of €40,000 were seized. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí seized two BMW X5 cars, watches and designer bags in searches across Dublin and other counties. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationNo one was arrested by gardaí in the searches. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe searches were led by detectives from the money laundering investigation unit at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationSearch warrants were executed on locations in Dublin, eastern and southern regions on Tuesday and Wednesday. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí seized luxury cars and watches valued at €300,000 from the charity the previous week. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are investigating alleged suspicious transactions comprising substantial international transfers of funds not commensurate with the charity's activity. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court appointed provisional liquidators to the charity. (rte.ie)
- courtThe liquidators were appointed following an application by the Charities Regulator as part of a petition to wind up the charity. (rte.ie)
- courtA High Court hearing on the winding up application is scheduled for November. (rte.ie)
- courtThe High Court ordered the appointment of a liquidator to Liberty Recycling. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe order was sought under the Charities Act 2009. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA hearing on the winding up application is scheduled for November. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe High Court appointed provisional liquidators to Liberty Recycling on Tuesday following the Charities Regulator's petition. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh is the chair of Liberty Recycling. (rte.ie)
- otherThe charity has shops in several counties and is involved in recycling clothes and other goods. (rte.ie)
- otherThe charity operates a clothes recycling initiative to provide employment and training to local people affected by drugs. (rte.ie)
- otherThe regulator said there is no evidence that the charity trustees are involved in the activities under investigation by the GNECB. (rte.ie)
- otherThe charity is chaired by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe company recorded total income of €3,633,263 for the financial year ending December 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe company recorded expenditure of €3,980,895. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe company last declared full compliance with the Charities Governance Code on 31 October 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe charity was established to support those with addiction. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Oct2026Regulator seeks urgent wind up of Liberty Recycling to protect sector’s reputation
Reports the High Court appointment of provisional liquidators to Liberty Recycling following the Charities Regulator's wind-up petition, and details the Garda money-laundering investigation into the charity's finances, including the seizure of luxury vehicles and watches.
- 27 Oct2026Liquidator appointed to charity at centre of garda probe after regulator request
Reports the High Court's order appointing joint provisional liquidators to Liberty Recycling under the Charities Act 2009, details the Regulator's findings of mismanagement, and describes the preceding Garda National Economic Crime Bureau searches that seized vehicles and luxury goods with no arrests.
- 27 Oct2026Liquidators assigned to charity in money-laundering probe
Reports the High Court's appointment of provisional liquidators to Liberty Recycling following a Charities Regulator winding-up petition, details of the garda money laundering investigation including seizure of two BMW X5 cars and luxury goods worth around €300,000, and the charity's connection to Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh as chair.
suspect, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Changed after publication
facts outlets added, removed or correctedthejournal.ie, 27 Oct 2026: Liquidator appointed to charity at centre of garda probe after regulator request
- RemovedSinn Féin said Ó Snodaigh has not been contacted by gardaí and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on his behalf
- AddedÓ Snodaigh met with the liquidators earlier that day
irishtimes.com, 27 Oct 2026: Regulator seeks urgent wind up of Liberty Recycling to protect sector’s reputation
- CorrectedThe type of assets acquired was corrected from 'fixed-terms' to 'fixed-term' (was fixed-terms assets, now fixed-term assets)
- CorrectedThe charity's name was corrected from 'Liberties Recycling' to 'Liberty Recycling' (was Liberties Recycling, now Liberty Recycling)
rte.ie, 27 Oct 2026: Liquidators assigned to charity in money-laundering probe
- RemovedThe Sinn Féin spokesperson's quote no longer states that Ó Snodaigh is a board member and chair of the charity under investigation
rte.ie, 27 Oct 2026: Liquidators assigned to charity in money-laundering probe
- CorrectedThe spokesperson's statement about Gardaí contact was revised: the old version said Ó Snodaigh had not been contacted by Gardaí, the new version omits that and says only he remains available to assist. (was Deputy Ó Snodaigh has engaged with the office of the Charities Regulator and has not been contacted by Gardaí, but if required, he will make himself available to assist with their inquiries., now Deputy Ó Snodaigh has remained in regular engagement with the office of the Charities Regulator over the past week since confirmation of the investigation emerged, and he remains available to assist An Garda Síochána with their inquiries.)
- AddedA High Court decision was made that day giving full executive control of the charity to the provisional liquidators.
- AddedÓ Snodaigh stated his intention to call an emergency board meeting of Liberty Global Exports Company Limited to consider all options including winding-up the company.
- CorrectedThe attribution of the statement was clarified from an unspecified 'It said' to 'A Sinn Féin spokesperson said'. (was It said, now A Sinn Féin spokesperson said)