BANK ACCOUNTS BELONGING to Liberty Recycling, a Dublin-based charity at the centre of a probe into suspected money laundering, have been frozen, the charity regulator submitted in legal documents to the High Court.<\/p>\n
The regulator said it has concerns that some of the conduct of individuals within the charity appears to be \u201cunlawful and\/or was carried out for the benefit of an organisation, membership of which is unlawful\u201d.<\/p>\n
It also alleged in its final petition that it appears that \u201cadequate steps have not been taken by the charity to prevent this conduct from taking place or continuing\u201d.<\/p>\n
Liberties Recycling \u2013 trading as Liberty Recycling \u2013 is a textiles recycling social enterprise that aims to assist people affected by drugs. It operates nine charity shops nationally, as well as a sorting depot, and has around 95 employees, according to court documents.<\/p>\n
The charity was incorporated in 2001. Its offices are in Bluebell Industrial estate in Dublin 12, and its chairman is Sinn F\u00e9in TD Aengus \u00d3 Snodaigh.<\/p>\n
The Charities Regulatory Authority stated in a petition to the High Court that there is no evidence that \u00d3 Snodaigh or the two other directors of the charity, Linda Behan or Brian Behan, were involved or had knowledge of any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
The regulator stated that it first became aware of an investigation being carried out by garda\u00ed into the charity\u2019s finances in July 2026, and went on to assist garda\u00ed. On 14 October, two representatives of the regulator met again with garda\u00ed.<\/p>\n
They were informed that garda\u00ed were investigating \u201csuspicious transactions\u201d being routed through the charity, which comprised \u201csubstantial international transfers of funds\u201d that were \u201cnot commensurate\u201d with the charity\u2019s level of activity.<\/p>\n
The watchdog said it was informed by garda\u00ed that the investigation is focused on the activities of \u201csenior personnel at the charity\u201d and the suspected laundering of proceeds of crime through the charity\u2019s bank accounts.<\/p>\n
Concerns were flagged over a number of vehicles that appeared to have been purchased by Liberties Recycling.<\/p>\n
The watchdog also stated in its petition that previous searches at the home of a senior staff member in 2025 resulted in \u20ac34,705 being found \u201cin suspicious circumstances\u201d, which was believed to have belonged to the charity.<\/p>\n
The named trustees at the charity, including \u00d3 Snodaigh, are not under investigation.<\/p>\n
A week later, on 20 October, the regulator said it was notified by garda\u00ed that searches in relation to the investigation were underway.\u00a0Two BMW X5 cars, watches and designer bags were seized<\/a>.<\/p>\n Garda\u00ed are also investigating the purchase of a Porsche in 2025, and separately the purchase of a 2026 BMW jeep, the latter vehicle being registered in the name of Liberty Developments, but in possession and control of a senior staff member, the petition said.<\/p>\n In the lengthy petition to the High Court, the charity regulator appealed for Liberties Recycling to be wound up, with liquidators appointed and the charity\u2019s existing funds rerouted to a charity with a similar service.<\/p>\n