In a shocking ruling, the High Court declared that a house, car, and watch valued at over €600,000 belonging to James Gately, a senior member of the infamous Hutch organised crime group, and his partner Charlene Lam are the proceeds of crime.

Described as living an exotic lifestyle of luxury cruises and frequent international travel, the couple were virtually never in Ireland, spending considerable time in airport terminals and on lavish cruises in the south seas and the Caribbean.

Gately, a known figure in criminal circles, has survived multiple assassination attempts and is suspected of involvement in several murders. The Criminal Assets Bureau will now move to seize their assets, including a house in Coolock, a Volkswagen Golf GTI car, and a Rolex watch.

Despite the couple’s attempts to refute the claims, the High Court ruled that the seized assets were “overwhelmingly” obtained through criminal activities that funded their extravagant lifestyle.

With ongoing legal proceedings, the case highlights the extensive reach of organised crime and the decisive actions taken by authorities to combat illicit activities.