2. Interim order.
(1) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the Court on application to it ex parte in that behalf by a member or an authorised officer—
that a person is in possession or control of—
(i) specified property and that the property constitutes, directly or indirectly, proceeds of crime, or
(ii) specified property that was acquired, in whole or in part, with or in connection with property that, directly or indirectly, constitutes proceeds of crime,
and
that the value of the property or, as the case may be, the total value of the property referred to in both subparagraphs (i) and (ii), of paragraph (a) is not less than £10,000,
the Court may make an order (“an interim order”) prohibiting the person or any other specified person or any other person having notice of the order from disposing of or otherwise dealing with the whole or, if appropriate, a specified part of the property or diminishing its value during the period of 21 days from the date of the making of the order.
(2) An interim order –
may contain such provisions, conditions and restrictions as the Court considers necessary or expedient, and
shall provide for notice of it to be given to the respondent and any other person who appears to be or is affected by it unless the Court is satisfied that it is not reasonably possible to ascertain his, her or their whereabouts.
(3) Where an interim order is in force, the Court, on application to it in that behalf by the respondent or any other person claiming ownership of any of the property concerned may, if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Court that—
the property concerned or a part of it is not property to which subparagraph (i) or (ii) of subsection (1)(a) applies, or
the value of the property to which those subparagraphs apply is less than £10,000,
discharge or, as may be appropriate, vary the order.
(4) The Court shall, on application to it in that behalf at any time by the applicant, discharge an interim order.
(5) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), an interim order shall continue in force until the expiration of the period of 21 days from the date of its making and shall then lapse unless an application for the making of an interlocutory order in respect of any of the property concerned is brought during that period and, if such an application is brought, the interim order shall lapse upon—
the determination of the application,
the expiration of the ordinary time for bringing an appeal from the determination,
if such an appeal is brought, the determination or abandonment of it or of any further appeal or the expiration of the ordinary time for bringing any further appeal,
whichever is the latest.
(6) Notice of an application under this section shall be given—
in case the application is under subsection (3), by the respondent or other person making the application to the applicant,
in case the application is under subsection (4), by the applicant to the respondent unless the Court is satisfied that it is not reasonably possible to ascertain his or her whereabouts,
and, in either case, to any other person in relation to whom the Court directs that notice of the application be given to him or her.
3. Interlocutory order.
(1) Where, on application to it in that behalf by the applicant, it appears to the Court, on evidence tendered by the applicant, consisting of or including evidence admissible by virtue of section 8 —
that a person is in possession or control of—
(i) specified property and that the property constitutes, directly or indirectly, proceeds of crime, or
(ii) specified property that was acquired, in whole or in part, with or in connection with property that, directly or indirectly, constitutes proceeds of crime,
and
that the value of the property or, as the case may be, the total value of the property referred to in both subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (a) is not less than £10,000,
the Court shall make an order (“an interlocutory order”) prohibiting the respondent or any other specified person or any other person having notice of the order from disposing of or otherwise dealing with the whole or, if appropriate, a specified part of the property or diminishing its value, unless, it is shown to the satisfaction of the Court, on evidence tendered by the respondent or any other person—
(I) that that particular property does not constitute, directly or indirectly, proceeds of crime and was not acquired, in whole or in part, with or in connection with property that, directly or indirectly, constitutes proceeds of crime, or
(II) that the value of all the property to which the order would relate is less than £10,000:
Provided, however, that the Court shall not make the order if it is satisfied that there would be a serious risk of injustice.
(2) An interlocutory order—
may contain such provisions, conditions and restrictions as the Court considers necessary or expedient, and
shall provide for notice of it to be given to the respondent and any other person who appears to be or is affected by it unless the Court is satisfied that it is not reasonably possible to ascertain his, her or their whereabouts.
(3) Where an interlocutory order is in force, the Court, on application to it in that behalf at any time by the respondent or any other person claiming ownership of any of the property concerned, may, if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Court that the property or a specified part of it is property to which paragraph (I) of subsection (1) applies, or that the order causes any other injustice, discharge or, as may be appropriate, vary the order.
(4) The Court shall, on application to it in that behalf at any time by the applicant, discharge an interlocutory order.
(5) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), an interlocutory order shall continue in force until—
the determination of an application for a disposal order in relation to the property concerned,
the expiration of the ordinary time for bringing an appeal from that determination,
if such an appeal is brought, it or any further appeal is determined or abandoned or the ordinary time for bringing any further appeal has expired,
whichever is the latest, and shall then lapse.
(6) Notice of an application under this section shall be given—
in case the application is under subsection (1) or (4), by the applicant to the respondent, unless the Court is satisfied that it is not reasonably possible to ascertain his or her whereabouts,
in case the application is under subsection (3), by the respondent or other person making the application to the applicant,
and, in either case, to any other person in relation to whom the Court directs that notice of the application be given to him or her.
(7) Where a forfeiture order, or a confiscation order, under the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 , or a forfeiture order under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 , relates to any property that is the subject of an interim order, or an interlocutory order, that is in force, (“the specified property”), the interim order or, as the case may be, the interlocutory order shall—
if it relates only to the specified property, stand discharged, and
if it relates also to other property, stand varied by the exclusion from it of the specified property.
4. Disposal order.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), where an interlocutory order has been in force for not less than 7 years in relation to specified property, the Court, on application to it in that behalf by the applicant, may make an order (“a disposal order”) directing that the whole or, if appropriate, a specified part of the property be transferred, subject to such terms and conditions as the Court may specify, to the Minister or to such other person as the Court may determine.
(2) Subject to subsections (6) and (8), the Court shall make a disposal order in relation to any property the subject of an application under subsection (1) unless it is shown to its satisfaction that that particular property does not constitute, directly or indirectly, proceeds of crime and was not acquired, in whole or in part, with or in connection with property that, directly or indirectly, constitutes proceeds of crime.
(3) The applicant shall give notice to the respondent (unless the Court is satisfied that it is not reasonably possible to ascertain his or her whereabouts), and to such other (if any) persons as the Court may direct of an application under this section.
(4) A disposal order shall operate to deprive the respondent of his or her rights (if any) in or to the property to which it relates and, upon the making of the order, the property shall stand transferred to the Minister or other person to whom it relates.
(5) The Minister may sell or otherwise dispose of any property transferred to him or her under this section, and any proceeds of such a disposition and any moneys transferred to him or her under this section shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer by the Minister.
…
(6) In proceedings under subsection (1), before deciding whether to make a disposal order, the Court shall give an opportunity to be heard by the Court and to show cause why the order should not be made to any person claiming ownership of any of the property concerned.
(7) The Court, if it considers it appropriate to do so in the interests of justice, on the application of the respondent or, if the whereabouts of the respondent cannot be ascertained, on its own initiative, may adjourn the hearing of an application under subsection (1) for such period not exceeding 2 years as it considers reasonable.
(8) The Court shall not make a disposal order if it is satisfied that there would be a serious risk of injustice.
…
7. Receiver.
(1) Where an interim order or an interlocutory order is in force, the Court may at any time appoint a receiver—
to take possession of any property to which the order relates,
in accordance with the Court's directions, to manage, keep possession or dispose of or otherwise deal with any property in respect of which he or she is appointed, subject to such exceptions and conditions (if any) as may be specified by the Court, and may require any person having possession or control of property in respect of which the receiver is appointed to give possession of it to the receiver.
(2) Where a receiver takes any action under this section—
in relation to property which is not property the subject of an interim order or an interlocutory order, being action which he or she would be entitled to take if it were such property, and
believing, and having reasonable grounds for believing, that he or she is entitled to take that action in relation to that property, he or she shall not be liable to any person in respect of any loss or damage resulting from such action except in so far as the loss or damage is caused by his or her negligence.
8. Provisions in relation to evidence and proceedings under Act.
(1) Where a member or an authorised officer states—
in proceedings under section 2 , on affidavit or, if the Court so directs, in oral evidence, or
in proceedings under section 3 , in oral evidence,
that he or she believes either or both of the following, that is to say:
(i) that the respondent is in possession or control of specified property and that the property constitutes, directly or indirectly, proceeds of crime,
(ii) that the respondent is in possession of or control of specified property and that the property was acquired, in whole or in part, with or in connection with property that, directly or indirectly, constitutes proceeds of crime,
and that the value of the property or, as the case may be, the total value of the property referred to in both paragraphs (i) and (ii) is not less than £10,000, then, if the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the belief aforesaid, the statement shall be evidence of the matter referred to in paragraph (i) or in paragraph (ii) or in both, as may be appropriate, and of the value of the property.
(2) The standard of proof required to determine any question arising under this Act shall be that applicable to civil proceedings.
(3) Proceedings under this Act in relation to an interim order shall be heard otherwise than in public and any other proceedings under this Act may, if the respondent or any other party to the proceedings (other than the applicant) so requests and the Court considers it proper, be heard otherwise than in public.
(4) The Court may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, prohibit the publication of such information as it may determine in relation to proceedings under this Act, including information in relation to applications for, the making or refusal of and the contents of orders under this Act and the persons to whom they relate.
(5) Production to the Court in proceedings under this Act of a document purporting to authorise a person, who is described therein as an officer of the Revenue Commissioners, to perform the functions conferred on authorised officers by this Act and to be signed by a Revenue Commissioner shall be evidence that the person is an authorised officer.
9. Affidavit specifying property and income of respondent.
At any time during proceedings under section 2 or 3 or while an interim order or an interlocutory order is in force, the Court or, as appropriate, in the case of an appeal in such proceedings, the Supreme Court may by order direct the respondent to file an affidavit in the Central Office of the High Court specifying—
the property of which the respondent is in possession or control, or
(b) the income, and the sources of the income, of the respondent during such period (not exceeding 10 years) ending on the date of the application for the order as the court concerned may specify,
or both.
