A Bargain, for the new Owner?

Former home ‘with escape hatch’ of No1 Kinahan cartel man in Ireland Ross Browning sold to highest bidder

A plush countryside property – complete with ‘escape hatch’ – that once belonged to the Kinhan cartel’s No.1 man in Ireland, Ross Browning, has been sold to a single bidder for €550,000.

The luxury property ‘Chestnut Lodge’ in Garristown, north county Dublin as well as a two storey brick built house, a large commercial warehouse, three stables plus an expansive tarmacked yard on 3.2 acres – was taken into the possession of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) as part of a €1.4 million case against Browning and several of his family members.

The second parcel of land was purchased in the name of Browning’s mother Julie Conway in 2011, the CAB says.

One of the parcels of land is 0.2 acres and was sold for the Advised Minimum Value of €45,000 to one bidder while the second parcel of land was sold to one bidder for the Advised Minimum Value of €20,000.

Last year at a High Court hearing, Judge Alexander Owens appointed a receiver to take charge of the property at Garristown and the lands in Rush.

Earlier, we exclusively revealed the property was up for sale by public online auction. That auction took place on Thursday at midday and lasted one hour.

However, several members of his family denied CAB’s claim and said that money used came from legitimate sources.

In his judgement, Judge Alexander Owens said Browning’s mother Julie Conway and her partner ex-garda David O’Brien, who had been living in Chestnut Lodge, be allowed part of the proceeds from the sale of the renovated cottage because they had put some of their own money into it. This included €40,000 borrowed from the Garda Credit Union.

In his judgement Judge Owens said that although Browning’s name was not on the properties they were controlled by him, his partner Sinead Mulhall and his mother Julie Conway.

One single bidder purchased the sprawling property for the Advised Minimum Value (AMV) amount of €550,000. The auction site also showed that 31 people were watching the auction online.The description of Chestnut Lodge cottage on the auction advert- where Browning’s mother Julie and her partner, ex-garda David O’Brien lived – says it is a “two bedroom cottage extending to approximately 164m2 while internally accommodation briefly comprises entrance hall, open plan living/kitchen/dining area, two bedrooms (master ensuite) and bathroom. The property is in good condition internally and has been finished to a high standard.”