Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 23638Money laundering (proceeds of crime); VAT fraud (alleged) · Co. Limerick

High Court reserves decision on CAB application over Limerick car dealership money laundering

The High Court reserved its decision after a three-day hearing on a Criminal Assets Bureau application seeking to deem 111 cars and €20,000 seized from Stephen Bawn Motors Ltd in Limerick as proceeds of crime, with CAB alleging the dealership was used to launder money from the illegal drugs trade and was involved in VAT fraud.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court7 Dec
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe car dealership was used to launder money generated from the illegal drugs trade (irishtimes.com)
  • what111 cars were seized from the motor sales business in March 2019 (irishtimes.com)
  • what€20,000 in a linked bank account is also subject to the application (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe cars were auctioned for some €820,000 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe business operated out of a portacabin on a leased lot (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe company was used by people with extensive links to local, national and international criminals (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNo proper books and records were kept by the company (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe company also engaged in VAT fraud (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMike Nash claims he owns more than 50 of the vehicles seized (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe business was fronted by another individual (irishtimes.com, tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatCAB is seeking to deem 111 cars and €20,000 as proceeds of crime (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCAB claims €820,000 was generated from the sale of the seized vehicles (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCAB claims the dealership was used to launder money from the illegal drugs trade (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCAB alleges the dealership was involved in VAT fraud (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMike Nash claims to have an interest in over 50 of the cars (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCounsel said there was a carpooling arrangement in place with Mr Nash and others associated with the business (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe business traded as Bawn Motors on Old Ballysimon Road, Limerick (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMike Nash has an address in Newcastle West, Co Limerick (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMany of the cars were purchased in the UK (irishtimes.com, tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe business operated from a portacabin on a leased lot in Limerick. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe cars were seized from Stephen Bawn Motors Ltd, trading as Bawn Motors, on Old Ballysimon Road, Limerick (irishtimes.com)
  • whenCAB commenced its investigation in 2017 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe car sales business began trading about seven years ago (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe cars were seized from the motor sales business in March 2019. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe CAB investigation commenced in 2017. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe vehicles were seized in March 2019 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe hearing concluded on Friday, the third day of the hearing (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationIn the same operation, officers raided two houses in Limerick, a garage in a town in Tipperary, an accountant's office in Limerick City, and two solicitors' offices in Co Limerick. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • chargeCAB alleges the company also engaged in VAT fraud. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtCAB is seeking orders under section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing resumes on Thursday (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCAB asked the court for orders under Section 3 of the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act deeming 111 cars and €20,000 as proceeds of crime. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Alexander Owens reserved his decision (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMike Nash also operates another car sales business (irishtimes.com)
  • otherJohn O'Donoghue is currently serving a prison sentence for assault (irishtimes.com)
  • otherO'Donoghue is alleged to be an associate of Christy Keane and the Kinahan organised crime gang (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe cars were auctioned for approximately €820,000 due to depreciation. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe auction proceeds have remained frozen pending the outcome of CAB's application. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe car sales business commenced trading approximately seven years before the hearing. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherNo proper books and records were kept by the firm. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherMike Nash also operates another car sales business and claims to be the owner of over 50 of the seized vehicles. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherMike Nash is an associate of Christy Keane and the Kinahan organised crime gang. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherJohn O'Donoghue from Rathkeale is alleged to have been involved in running Stephen Bawn Motors and is serving a prison sentence for assault. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe seizure of the cars was one of the biggest in CAB's history. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherThe seized cars included luxury model Mercedes, BMW and Audi. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • otherNo criminal prosecution has taken place in relation to the VAT fraud allegations (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge described the case as complicated (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Dec2022
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    High Court reserves Cab application decision on Limerick car dealership allegedly used for money laundering

    Reports the conclusion of the three-day High Court hearing and the judge's decision to reserve his ruling on the CAB application.

    accused, Mike Nash, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mike Nash
  2. 9 Dec2022
    In courttipperarylive.ie, its first report
    CAB raided garage in a Tipperary town as part of operation, court hears

    Adds details from the High Court hearing: the cars were auctioned for €820,000, the business operated from a portacabin on a leased lot, many cars were purchased in the UK, Mike Nash is alleged to be an associate of Christy Keane and the Kinahan gang, John O'Donoghue from Rathkeale is alleged to have been involved in running the business, and the operation included raids on a garage in Tipperary, two houses in Limerick, an accountant's office and two solicitors' offices.

    suspect, Mike Nash, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mike Nashsuspect, John O'Donoghue, named, irish (judged from name)John O'Donoghue
  3. 7 Dec2022
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Limerick car dealership used to launder drug money, court hears

    Provides further detail from the High Court hearing: the business operated from a portacabin on a leased lot, began trading about seven years ago, many cars were purchased in the UK, no proper books and records were kept, the cars were auctioned for some €820,000, John O'Donoghue is serving a prison sentence for assault, and the same operation included raids on two houses in Limerick, a garage in Tipperary, an accountant's office in Limerick City and two solicitors' offices in Co Limerick.

    suspect, Mike Nash, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mike Nashsuspect, John O'Donoghue, male, named, irish (judged from name)John O'Donoghue