Seized Dublin home of gangster to go up for auction for over €350,000
The boarded up Dublin home once owned by notorious gangster David Waldron and later seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), is to go under the hammer next month with a guide price of €354,000.The house, at 229 Ratoath Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, is being offered for sale by live virtual online and public auction on Wednesday, February 25 through Wilsons Auctions at their Kingswood Interchange premises on the Naas Road, Dublin 22. Despite its grim associations, the property itself is a substantial family home in what agents describe as a "spectacular location."The two-storey semi-detached brick dwelling dates back to approximately 1948 and has been extended to the rear in more recent years. The house comprises an entrance hall, kitchen, living room, sunroom, four bedrooms, two of which are en suite and a family bathroom.To the front is a paved driveway with space for two cars, while the rear features a large, mature terraced garden with side access. A shed located at the end of the garden offers additional storage and potential for alternative uses.It is situated on the R805 on the renowned Ratoath Road, a much-sought-after mature residential area close to the Navan Road and the Phoenix Park. Seized by the CAB as part of efforts to strip criminal figures of ill-gotten gains, the former Waldron home is now being marketed solely on its size, location and potential, as it awaits a new chapter far removed from its criminal past.Cabra-based Waldron (49) fought the CAB over possession of his homes in Dublin, Kildare and in particular a renovated luxury €1.6m mansion, complete with a 'man den' in Co Wexford. But, in 2024 he lost the four-year battle against the CAB and the properties, including the Cabra property now for auction, were seized.During the High Court hearing in April 2025, the presiding judge Alexander Owens found that the properties were all purchased with the proceeds of crime by Waldron, who, he found, is a "major player in the illegal distribution and sale of drugs."The judge said he agreed with the Chief Bureau officer that Waldron has been a major player in the distribution and sale of drugs in Dublin since the year 2000 - and that "this activity has been the mainstay of his means, income and lifestyle during this period.The judgement meant Waldron was ordered to hand over his properties after the Judge also concluded that his wife Charlene, who was also named in the proceedings, knew that the purchase of the mansion did not come from legitimate means."She cannot but have been aware of the source of her means and of her husband's means to engage in these activities," the Judge said in his judgement. Speaking after the court hearing, the Chief Officer of CAB, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Gubbins said it shows why there's a need for the bureau."This was an individual who over 20 years amassed well over €3.3 million which they expended on three properties which the Bureau have taken to the High Court and proven their case that these are the proceeds of crime. I think it establishes why the bureau was established and more importantly it sends a message to the community of the value and the work the Criminal Assets Bureau is doing in their area."It's not just the money we are taking off them but the houses of these individuals. During the course of the lengthy proceedings, Waldron claimed to be too broke to pay his own legal team - despite a finding that he splashed €5,000 on his child's christening."In the judgement, the Judge accepted the submissions of the CAB which said Waldron used money from the proceeds of crime to purchase a property in Riverforest, Leixlip and one on Ratoath Road in Cabra and to refurbish them.The Judge found that David and Charlene Waldron "enjoyed lavish foreign travel which was inconsistent with the manner in which they operated their bank accounts and their sources of legitimate income" up until his imprisonment in March 2015.He further found that this lavish lifestyle resumed after Waldron was released from prison - and that the couple rarely used their bank accounts to defray ordinary expenditure on daily living."David Waldron's income to fund his lifestyle and most of his expenses of daily living came from undisclosed sources," the judge said. Money used to buy the site at Darview Heights came from hidden sources and could not be traced back to any legitimate means or income for David or Charlene Waldron," the judge concluded.Waldron and his infamous brother Christopher 'Git' Waldron were once close associates of slain monster Eamon 'The Don' Dunne along with the brothers Wayne and Alan 'Fatpuss' Bradley.Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
