Schools benefit from money linked to Kildare crime

Cash believed by Kildare gardai to be the proceeds of crime had been donated to schools and other charities.

The Police Property Act allows the state to permanently seize money or goods if the rightful owner cannot be found.

However the funds can also be diverted to good causes in local communities.

Lacken National School near Blessington today benefited from  €290 seized at the Oxegen music festival in Punchestown.

Gardai believe the money resulted from the sale of drugs.

A further €260 was donated to Scoil Chonglais in Baltinglass.

The applications to allocate the money to the recipients were made by Supt Martin Walker in Naas District Court today and approved by Judge Desmond Zaidan.

The St Vincent de Paul charity in Naas also benefited from €119.45 seized st Oxegen as well as a set of saucepans believed to be stolen goods.