A man serving a 12-year sentence yesterday lost his High Court challenge to a decision of the Criminal Assets Bureau to sell his house at Lisadell, Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow.
Patrick Holland was convicted in November 1997 in the Special Criminal Court of possessing cannabis resin for sale and supply.
Mr Justice Kinlen, in a reserved judgment, said that during the Special Criminal Court hearing there had been evidence that the house was to be sold and that Holland and his wife would be notified of the pending sale.
Holland later took High Court proceedings and sought an order of prohibition.
Mr Justice Kinlen said Holland claimed this move by the CAB was "double jeopardy" as the confiscation of the house was a criminal penalty and he was being punished twice for the same offence.
The CAB, said the judge, claimed the house and its contents were the proceeds of crime. He said Holland had been convicted and was serving a sentence for one offence. The CAB had seized his house and its contents for another offence.
The court refused Holland's application.